Royal Oak and Birmingham, MI
Do you have chronic headaches and/or pain in your face, neck or jaw that may feel a bit better after taking over-the-counter pain relievers but always comes back? If you’ve been suffering from chronic pain for a while, we have good news for you. You may be able to find relief after just one visit to our family dentist in Royal Oak who treats temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder (TMD).
What is TMJ disorder?
The TMJ acts as a hinge connecting the jaw to the skull. It is part of a complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs and bones that work together to facilitate movements like chewing, speaking and yawning. When this system becomes dysfunctional, it can result in TMJ disorder.
What are the symptoms of TMJ disorder?
TMJ can present itself with many symptoms, but the most common include:
- Clicking or popping noises in the jaw joint, especially when opening and closing the mouth
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Difficulty or discomfort when chewing
- Locking of the jaw joint, making it difficult to open or close the mouth
- Pain or ringing deep in the ears
- Chronic headaches, neck pain or facial pain
- Muscle stiffness or spasms in the jaw or neck
- Changes in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together (malocclusion)
How does TMJ disorder cause chronic pain?
TMD can cause muscle tension and stiffness, which can lead to chronic tension-type headaches. Also, pain in one part of the face, neck or head can travel along the cranial trigeminal nerve to other parts of the head. So while TMD symptoms are typically localized to the jaw area, any dysfunction there can have widespread effects.
How can my chronic pain be resolved?
At Hartrick Dentistry, we have solved many cases of TMD-related chronic pain through comfortable and non-invasive oral appliance therapy. Many symptoms of TMJ disorder — especially bruxism, or the clenching and grinding of teeth — are exacerbated at night during sleep. Wearing a mouthguard at night repositions the jaw to prevent incidences of teeth grinding, and it also opens the airway to prevent snoring. This mitigates many of our patients’ TMJ-related symptoms during the day and leads to much better rest at night.
TMJ dentist in Royal Oak and Birmingham, Michigan
If you’ve been suffering from chronic pain, we know you want to find a solution. Our TMJ dentist in Birmingham at Hartrick Dentistry is trained to determine if you have TMD through a simple consultation and exam. If it is determined you have TMD, you may be able to walk out of our office that same day with a custom oral appliance that will improve your quality of life practically overnight. Call us today at (248) 712-1149, or reach out to us online to schedule an appointment today.