People rely on the smooth opening and closing of their jaw for countless daily activities – talking, chewing, laughing, and yawning, to name a few. But, when opening your jaw becomes painful instead of painless, daily activities can become excruciating. This pain is often stemmed from an injury to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in the jaw.
Fortunately, Dr. Tomlinson can help! Contact us today if you have any jaw-related pain.
Discover more about a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) and factors associated with this condition:
How Your Temporomandibular Joint Works
The temporomandibular joint fastens your jaw bone to your skull. It acts like a hinge which gives your jaw a wide range of motion. If you have TMJD, you may experience symptoms such as headaches, loss of balance, ear pain, difficulty chewing, and neck pain.
TMJD does not simply go away. Intentional treatments must be made in order to correct the problem. Fortunately, surgery isn’t the only answer! Many people benefit from non-surgical options such as medications and therapies. In severe cases, such as degeneration or inability to close the mouth, jaw surgery may be the answer.
Surprising Factors Linked to TMJ
If you have suffered an injury to your jaw, it’s possible that your joint disc was dislocated. This can cause a TMJ disorder to develop. But, there are other ways TMJ can occur that you should take into consideration. Be mindful of the following:
- Any amount of rheumatoid arthritis
- Extreme whiplash
- Intense stress
- Long-term clenching or grinding teeth
- Severe jaw or head injuries (work or sport-related is common)
All of the instances listed above somehow affect the jaw’s disc or joint. When the jaw is not in proper alignment, pain is likely to occur. Our team can help if you’re suffering from TMJD! Contact Athens Oral Surgery Center today for relief.