The "Temporomandibular Joint," is the hinge joint just in front of the ear that allows the basic motion of opening and closing of the jaw. A group of muscles is slinged around this joint to contol movement. Unfortunately, this joint and its muscles are a common area for recurring pain. Although conventional wisdom suggests that "popping" sounds in the jaw indicates a TMJ dysfunction, this is not always true. Many times, your jaw is functioning properly even if a "popping" or "clicking" sound is present when chewing or talking. However, this problem should always be evaluated.
We offer a TMJ exam that evaluates the joint tissue and muscles of the jaw. Possible problems include arthritic changes, deterioration of the joint tissue, damaged joint tissue (which cushions the jaw bones during the opening and closing movement of the mouth) or muscle and tendon inflamation. Common pain relievers, a soft diet and cold or warm compresses can provide temporary relief for most cases of TMJ discomfort.
For more serious cases of TMJ pain, we will recommend alternate treatments. Often, we will suggest using a mouth guard to relieve the stress of teeth grinding. For the most severe cases of TMJ, we may recommend a consultation with a facial painspecialist or orthodontist.