Common Indications of TMJ

    HOUSTON, TX, June 26, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) is the cause of the misalignment of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). The TMJ is the joint that connects the lower jaw to skull and allows for the complete movement of the jaw. Everyone has two Temporomandibular Joints on either side of the lower jaw. Severe pain along with other symptoms begin when the TMJ are misaligned.

Common Indications of TMJ

The symptoms caused by the misalignment of the TMJ may not seem to be related to a misaligned jaw. There are many symptoms that involve the face, jaw, teeth, ears, neck, shoulders, and back. The most common symptom noticed by patients who suffer from TMJ is pain. Pain may be felt in the face, neck, shoulders, and back and is caused by muscle fatigue.

Muscle fatigue begins when the jaw is misaligned and the muscles on one side of the face have to work harder than the other side to pull the jaw back in alignment every time the jaw moves. The muscles in the face are connected to the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and back. Pain can flow down the body into the back with the origin of the pain being in the face. Back pain may seem unrelated to a misaligned jaw, but is actually a common indication of TMJ.

Muscle fatigue is the cause of almost all the pain that comes with TMJ. Fatigued muscles can also cause severe headaches that many patients and physicians mistake for migraines. TMJ may cause other pain such as pain in the teeth due to teeth grinding that leads to worn and loose teeth.

Some of the other common indications of TMJ are:

- Migraine-like headaches
- Chipped or cracked teeth
- Worn teeth
- Loose teeth
- Soreness and pain in the jaw joints
- Teeth pain
- Facial, neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joints
- Locking of the jaw
- Limited movement of the jaw
- Numbness in the arms or fingers
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Ear congestion or stuffiness
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)

Seeking Treatment for TMJ

A neuromuscular dentist is the only one qualified to diagnose and treat TMJ. Neuromuscular dentistry is the field of dentistry that focuses on treating the root cause of the symptoms rather than just treating the symptoms. An experienced neuromuscular dentist will work with each patient to come up with an individualized treatment plan that is right for each patient's specific needs. There are many TMJ treatments available to help every patient find relief from chronic TMJ symptoms.

If you live in the Houston, Texas area and think you may have TMJ, please visit the website of Konig Center for Cosmetic & Comprehensive Dentistry at www.konigdds.com.

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