If you have temporary facial or jaw pain, it may be a sign of sinusitis. However, if it’s a chronic issue, it may be a sign that you have TMJ. This particular condition affects your jaw joint, possibly both of them. At Summit Family Dentistry, serving Littleton, Colorado, and the nearby region, our dentist can diagnose the cause of your facial or jaw pain and provide you with TMJ/TMD therapy.
What’s TMJ
The acronym TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint disorder. It causes pain in your mouth’s hinges. It’s not always known what causes this issue, but factors like grinding or clenching your teeth, arthritis, or a previous jaw injury may contribute. Genetics can play a factor as well.
Identifying TMJ Symptoms
Individuals who suffer from TMJ may have pain or tenderness in their jaw. Often, the pain is local around the joint, but it may radiate to other parts of the person’s face, possibly to the person’s ear. Additionally, this condition could make chewing painful or difficult. Some people experience their jaw locking or they hear a clicking noise when they open their jaw.
Diagnosing TMJ
To diagnose TMJ, our dentist will gather information about your medical and dental history. You’ll be asked to open and close your jaw, so we can observe your jaw’s range of motion and listen for any clicking. Our dentist also presses on your jaw and the surrounding area to identify where the pain and discomfort is. Sometimes, further testing is necessary, such as an X-ray or other imaging.
About TMJ Therapy
Our dentist may fit you for a mouthguard for when you sleep. The therapy aspect of your treatment plan consists of our dentist guiding you through exercises that strengthen and stretch your jaw’s muscles. These exercises go at a pace that’s comfortable for you. For further relief of your symptoms, our practitioner may recommend at-home treatments, such as hot and cold therapy. You don’t have to battle with the pain and discomfort of TMJ. Therapy can help with pain in many patients. Contact Summit Family Dentistry for TMJ pain relief. Contact Us
