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Chances are, you’ve never even heard of Temporomandibular disorders, known to patients and doctors as TMJ/TMDs. Although this group of disorders is singularly unpublicized, millions of people currently suffer intense pain and debilitating symptoms for TMJ/TMDs, conditions which affect the muscles and joints in the jawbone. Unfortunately, these disorders are so little known to the public that right at this moment there are people suffering from TMJ/TMDs in Frisco who aren’t even aware that there is a condition causing their pain, and know nothing about the various treatments available to alleviate it. So let’s take this opportunity to learn a little about TMJ/TMDs, and what your dentist can do to help. What Is TMJ/TMDs? TMJ/TMDs are a group of disorders affecting the muscles and joints which control jaw movement. The joints connecting skull to jaw are part of a complex and delicate system involving bones, muscles, ligaments, and the nervous system associated with all of these areas. TMJ/TMDs arise from an imbalance in the working relationship between these complex parts, and can result in a vast and debilitating array of symptoms, including joint and muscle pain, spasm, and fatigue, headaches and facial, ear, and jaw pain, difficulty in chewing or opening the mouth, muffled hearing, neck pain, clicking jaw, and dizziness. Just as every person is different, every case of TMJ/TMD has a unique pattern of symptoms, so many people could be walking around undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed with other problems, such as migraines or lockjaw. If you have any pain in your jaw area, or any of the symptoms above, it’s important that you see your local Frisco dentist and talk about whether you could actually be suffering from TMJ/TMD. How Dentistry Can Treat TMJ/TMDs Although TMJ/TMD can be caused by a trauma to the head, in many cases it appears more gradually, from repetitive habits such as clenching the jaw or excessive gum chewing, grinding the teeth, or from a misaligned bite. Overtime, these factors cause the jaw muscles to contract and lock, causing the patient pain and accelerating the system imbalance. In Frisco, TMJ/TMD is first treated by inducing relaxation in the muscles of the jaw. Once the muscles have been relaxed, a thorough dental exam is typical. Since TMJ/TMDs often stem from misalignment of the jaw, treatments often involve bite correction, with teeth repositions options ranging from discrete removable retainers, braces, or in extreme cases, oral surgery. As simple as it seems, a misaligned bite can cause a disturbing array of symptoms in its own right, including eventual tooth loss, and the effects upon your jaw bone, joint and muscles, gradually cause the extreme discomfort and imbalance known as TMJ/TMD. Getting proper dental care, and professional bite evaluation and adjustment is an integral part of successful TMJ therapy in Frisco. If you’re living with pain in your jaw muscles or joints, or suspect that you could have TMJ/TMD, go see your dentist immediately and discuss your options. There’s no reason to keep suffering, or going to doctors who don’t understand why you have this pain, when the answer could be as simple as straightening your smile. And relief from TMJ/TMD is really something to smile about. For more information about Frisco TMJ or to speak with a local Frisco dentist please go to http://www.starranchdental.com.
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