Have you ever felt your jaw lock open as you yawned or opened wide to eat something? If so, it could have been a bout of TMJ. Chesterfield Family Dental in Springfield, MO wants all of our patients to be aware of this condition and to act quickly should they experience symptoms. A locked jaw is but one of the problems of the condition, and there are many important benefits of TMJ treatment for you to enjoy.
Understanding TMJ
The temporomandibular joint is the largest in your head, and it attaches the lower jaw to the skull. Experts remain unclear as to the cause for TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), also called TMJ. What they do know is that it is characterized by many unpleasant symptoms. These include:
- Locking jaw
- Noises when opening or closing the mouth
- Difficulty chewing, eating and speaking
- Dental pain from clenching and grinding
- Ear and neck pain
- Ear ringing
- Jaw pain
Clearly, the most essential of the benefits of TMJ treatment is that it can begin to almost immediately address such unwelcome issues. Treatment is actually quite simple. As your trusted dentist in Springfield, we can administer TMJ treatment by the creation of a customized mouthguard that you wear as you sleep. Most people with TMJ find that they clench their teeth and grind them often at night. This can worsen all of the pain and symptoms, and preventing this bruxism is one of the essential benefits of TMJ treatment.
However, our TMJ dentist will also tell you that other benefits of TMJ treatment include the elimination of risk for tooth damage, improved eating and diet, better hearing and no more ringing in the ears, and an improved sense of well-being that comes from better sleep and less irritation and pain.
Even more surprising to most of our patients is that TMJ can be the underlying cause to a long list of other health issues. Dizziness, constant fatigue, digestive disorders, and emotional issues are closely tied to TMJ, and treating it can often erase such concerns.
Suffering from Jaw Pain? Experience TMJ Treatment
Are you ready to enjoy the benefits of TMJ treatment? If so, give us a call at our Springfield, MO office at 417-888-0771. You can also use our online contact form and one of our staff will get back to you promptly.