Millions of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain, such as jaw pain, headaches or earaches. The source of these aches and pains may be related to one or both of the temporomandibular (TM) joints. Located on each side of the head, these joints work together, with a complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs, and bones, to make different movements for chewing and speaking.
What is TMJ?
Temporomandibular disorder, also known as TMJ, refers to a variety of conditions that affect TM joints, jaw muscles, and facial nerves. TMJ may occur when the jaw twists during the opening, closing or side-motion movements.
What are TMJ Symptoms?
People with TMJ may experience these symptoms:
Pain in or around the ear
Headaches and neck aches
Tenderness of the jaw or jaw muscles
Jaw pain or soreness that is more prevalent in the morning or late afternoon
Jaw pain when chewing, biting or yawning
Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
Clicking or popping noises when opening the mouth
Sensitive teeth when no other dental problems can be found
TMJ affects more than twice as many women (particularly those of childbearing age) as men and is the most common non-dental related chronic facial pain.
What are main causes of TMJ?
Arthritis - Infectious arthritis, traumatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and secondary degenerative arthritis can affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
Misaligned bite (problem with the way teeth fit together)
Jaw dislocation or injury
Does stress have an impact to TMJ?
Stress is thought to be a factor in TMJ. Even strenuous physical tasks, such as lifting a heavy object or stressful situations, can aggravate TMJ by causing overuse of jaw muscles, specifically clenching or grinding teeth (also known as bruxism).
How do TMJ specialist diagnose TMJ?
Diagnosis is an important step before treatment. In about 90% of cases, your description of symptoms, combined with a simple physical examination of face and jaw by your dentist, provides useful information for diagnosing these disorders, according to the Delta Dental Plans Association.
Our team will take x-rays and make a cast of your teeth to see how your bite fits together, or request specialized x-rays for the TM joints. Your complete medical history may be reviewed, so it is important to keep your dental office record up-to-date.
What should I do if think you have TMJ?
Call us for an assessment which has is focused on conservative TMJ treatment. Dr. Kurt Uyehara has over 30 years of experience helping patients from all over the world and locally in Hawaii with TMJ pain relief and preventative dental health treatments.
What treatments are used to treat TMJ headache pain & TMJ jaw pain?
Our TMJ Disorder treatments can help improve your headaches/migraines, balance, aches/pains, fatigue, and airway.
Day Appliances can treat your TMJ disorder and can help improve your overall health.
Night Appliances can open your airway at night, relieving symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing such as snoring, upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS), and even obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
For those patients who are CPAP intolerant, our day and night sleep apnea appliances can be a great alternative. Servicing global patients seeking TMJ specialist, headache relief, migraine treatments, and sleep apnea solutions.
Visit us at www.tmjdentalhawaii.com or call us 808-944-8338 for any appointment.
