When to Visit a TMJ Dentist for Jaw Pain

May 10, 2019 | Uncategorized

TMJ Dentist for Jaw Pain

Are you thinking about making an appointment with a TMJ dentist in the near future? When your jaw hurts it can be due to a number of different reasons, including genetics and arthritis. Your jaw pain may also stem from bruxism, another disorder that causes people to grind or clench their teeth which often leads to various levels of jaw pain. If you are indeed diagnosed with TMJ, your treatment plan will be directly based on your particular situation.

Signs and symptoms of TMJ

Are you still wanting more information on how a TMJ dentist can help you? The most common sign or symptom of TMJ is experiencing tenderness, discomfort and/or pain in the jaw and ear area. Patients typically only feel the pain on one side of their face, but sometimes they feel it on both sides. A clicking or popping sound is also a common symptom of TMJ and occurs when someone opens their mouth too wide or when eating. Consuming food often leads to even more pain due to the movement of the jaw when chewing food.

Common causes of TMJ

While the exact cause of TMJ is not known, there are instances as well as risk factors that increase one’s chances of being diagnosed with it. Someone is more likely to be diagnosed with TMJ when their temporomandibular joint is not in proper alignment, if arthritis damages their joints or if joints receive damage through injury or accident.

When to visit a TMJ dentist for jaw pain

It is recommended to see a dentist who treats TMJ when the tenderness, discomfort or pain in the jaw area is ongoing. It is also necessary to see a dentist when someone is not able to open or close their mouth completely.

How does a dentist make their diagnosis?

An experienced dentist will need to perform a thorough examination in order to determine whether or not someone indeed has TMJ. They will carefully observe the patient’s range of motion in their jaw, making sure to feel the entire jaw area and listen carefully while performing this important procedure. If a dentist finds a problem, they will take X-rays to gather more detailed information. Taking a CT scan and/or an MRI may also be necessary. These two additional tests allow the dentist to see detailed images of the jawbones as well as any potential problems surrounding the joint’s and/or soft tissues.

Do you think you have TMJ?

Are you ready to make an appointment with a TMJ dentist so you can know for sure whether or not you are living with TMJ? Your first step is getting a proper diagnosis, which allows you to understand what is happening with your jaw. After receiving a diagnosis, we can create your treatment plan, which can include taking certain medications, taking part in specific therapies or undergoing a surgical process to correct the problem. Call us now to get started.

Call our Leawood, KS, dental office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

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