Everything You Should Know about TMD Treatment

Many times, when you think about dental problems, you are probably thinking about those affecting the teeth, like dental decay. While tooth decay is the reason why many people visit dental clinics in Houston, it is not the only reason.

Other dental problems like TMD are serious oral issues that can only be treated by an expert in this area. Perhaps learning more about the disorder can help you understand why patients must seek TMJ treatment in Houston, TX when they have the condition.

What Is TMD?

It is an acronym referring to temporomandibular joint disorder. It also goes by the acronym TMJ. This condition affects several patients, even though it is not the most common dental problem in dentistry.

TMD features a dental problem that hurts the joint connecting the jawbone to the skull. The temporomandibular joint usually serves as the sliding hinge holding and connecting the jawbone and the skull on both sides of your face. When this joint is damaged, the functionality of the mouth is curtailed. It becomes close to impossible to eat, speak, or simply close your mouth after yawning. Many patients even experience jaw lock, where the jaw is stuck in the open mouth position.

What Causes TMD?

Before you get to seeking TMD treatment near Houston, TX, you must understand more about the condition and why it happens. In multiple cases, the specific cause of TMD is unknown. However, different issues have been attributed to increasing the risk of TMJ, including the following:

• Excessive teeth grinding – it goes by the medical term bruxism. It is when someone grinds their teeth against each other too much, especially when sleeping. It is a common problem among children, often resulting in TMD.
• Traumatic injury – especially one involving blunt force in the area of the joint. An injury can break your jawbone, displace the disc in the TMJ area, and cause this disorder.
• Stress and depression – when under constant stress and depression, it is normal to clench your face excessively. The clenching can place a lot of unnecessary pressure on your facial muscles, leading to TMD.
• Arthritis, for example, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis – can cause damage to the cartilage of the temporomandibular joint.

Which Symptoms Are Associated With TMD?

This condition is different from other kinds of dental problems. Some of the signs that you have TMJ and you should seek TMJ treatment in 77057 include the following:

• Pain when chewing – the tension in your facial muscles and jawbone will make you feel uncomfortable when you chew food. The soreness will most likely increase when you chew hard foods.
• Swelling and tenderness on your face – this will be noticed on your cheeks, under your eyes, and sometimes in your neck area.
• Migraines and headaches – because of the interconnection of the jawbone to the skill through the temporomandibular joint, this condition will affect other parts of your body, more so the head. You are likely to experience recurrent migraines and throbbing headaches that get worse with time.
• Ringing in your ears – the joint is closely located by the ears on both sides. When there is a problem with the joint, you will experience a strange ringing in your ears. You may also hear some cranking sounds every time you try to move your mouth.
• Jaw lock – for very severe cases of TMJ, jaw lock may occur. It’s where the jaw is stuck in the open position. This means that you will have trouble closing your mouth, especially after yawning or laughing out loud. If you experience this symptom, be sure to call a dentist near Houston, TX, immediately for urgent treatment.

Treatment Options For TMJ

Depending on the underlying cause of the disorder, TMD treatment near you will involve any of the following procedures:

• Mouthguard – an oral appliance that reduces teeth grinding
• Anti-inflammatories – medications that help combat the swelling and tenderness on your face
• Muscle relaxants – are prescribed to help release some of the tension and pressure exerted on your facial muscles.
• Surgery – a doctor may need to surgically correct the problem in your temporomandibular joint region.