TMJ Treatments in Bay Village, OH
TMJ stands for “Temporomandibular Joint” and refers to the joint that connects your jawbone (mandible) to your skull, specifically the temporal bone.
This joint allows you to open and close your mouth, move your jaw from side to side, and enables actions like chewing, speaking, and yawning.
Chronic jaw pain and headaches from TMJ can be debilitating for many people, making it difficult to engage in everyday activities.
TMJ disorders can lead to a variety of symptoms and issues, including:
Jaw Pain: Pain or discomfort in the jaw joint, often aggravated by chewing, speaking, or opening the mouth widely.
Headaches: TMJ disorders can cause tension-type headaches or migraines due to muscle tension and stress on the jaw joint.
Facial Pain: Pain or tenderness in the face, particularly around the jaw and ear area.
Clicking or Popping: Some individuals with TMJ disorders may experience clicking, popping, or grating sounds when they open and close their mouths.
Limited Jaw Movement: Difficulty or pain when trying to open the mouth fully or move the jaw from side to side.
Locking Jaw: In some cases, the jaw may temporarily “lock” in an open or closed position, making it difficult to move.
Ear Symptoms: TMJ disorders can cause earaches, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or a sense of fullness or pressure in the ears.
The exact causes of TMJ disorders can vary and may involve a combination of factors, including jaw misalignment, muscle tension, trauma to the jaw or head, teeth grinding (bruxism), stress, arthritis, and more.