TMJ

The temporomandibular joint is a joint connecting the jaw to the temporal bone in the skull. Abbreviated as or TMJ, it is the joint that helps people chew, talk, and open or close their mouth. There is a disorder of the TMJ called TMD that can cause a variety of side effects, making things like eating and opening the mouth extremely painful.

 

Some of the more common symptoms of TMJ disorders include the jaw getting stuck while opened or closed, grinding at night, headaches or pain in the ears, pain when opening and closing the mouth, difficulty chewing, and hearing popping or clicking sounds when opening the mouth.

 

Our dental practice provides a variety of treatment options for TMJ disorder, to help alleviate pain and reduce popping and locking of the jaw. Our dentist Dr. Ivi Sanguinetti may begin by recommending a night guard to be custom made, which protects the patient from teeth grinding at night. This can help relieve tension on the jaw, and reduce morning headaches, teeth pain, and ear pain. There are also some surgery options for TMJ, though these are the last resort.

 

If you have any of the above symptoms of TMJ, call us at 281-421-5950 for a consultation in our Baytown, TX dental practice.