TMJ Disorder Overview
Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ disorder, occurs when your jaw becomes misaligned, affecting the joint, the muscles that control its movements, and the nerves running through the joint. This disorder can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as jaw pain, headaches, earaches, difficulty chewing, and more. Various factors can cause TMJ disorder, but it’s most commonly caused by injury, arthritis, or teeth grinding.
You must seek attention from your Owasso dentist if you’re experiencing any TMJ symptoms. Early intervention can help prevent your condition from getting worse.
Why is Medical Attention Necessary?
Many people suffer from TMJ pain for years before discovering something can be done about it. So naturally, one of the reasons to seek medical attention from your Owasso dentist is that you don’t have to live in pain. You can regain your quality of life by seeking treatment.
But there are other reasons why you need to seek treatment when you have TMJ disorder. The pain you feel is telling you that something isn’t right. Sometimes, your pain may go away when your situation changes—like in a temporary situation of high stress, your teeth grinding may go away after the situation passes. You may experience temporary jaw pain from body aches due to an illness, but that, too, will go away with time.
However, when your check engine light stays on consistently, you know something is wrong, and without maintenance, the problem will worsen. The same is true for TMJ disorder. If your pain persists for 10 days without a reasonable explanation, seek TMJ treatment in Owasso. Without treatment, you could experience the following:
- Permenant nerve pain.
- Permanent hearing loss.
- Chronic Pain Disorder.
- Vertigo.
- Frequent headaches and migraines.
- Depression and anxiety.
Are you concerned that you may have TMJ disorder? Call your Owasso TMJ dentist, Dr. Heng Lim, at (918) 274-3779 or make an appointment online.
Common TMJ Symptoms
TMJ symptoms are wide-reaching and affect more than just your jaw. Read about the symptoms below to determine if you or someone you know may benefit from Owasso TMJ treatment.
- Pain and discomfort in the jaw joint.
- Headaches and migraines.
- Earaches and ringing in the ears.
- Difficulty chewing or biting.
- Jaw locking or popping.
- Neck and shoulder pain.
- Dizziness.
Pain and discomfort in the jaw joint
Jaw pain is the most common and first symptom of TMJ disorder. Your jaw pain could be due to three different factors. First, your jaw could be out of alignment and scrape against another bone, causing your joint will degrade. Second, your jaw muscles could be strained due to grinding, clenching, or your joint slipping out of place. Your muscles try to pull your jaw back into alignment and become fatigued, causing pain and pulling on ligaments. Finally, your jaw joint and muscles could pinch the nerves that run through your jaw joint. Left untreated, you could experience permanent nerve damage.
Headaches and Migraines
Do you have chronic headaches and migraines? We know how disorienting and excruciating head pain can be. A common reason why people experience chronic headaches and migraines is TMJ disorder. Your misaligned jaw can cause your muscles and nerves to become strained, causing pain.
Migraines are a mysterious neurological condition that can be triggered by TMJ disorder. Your trigeminal nerve runs through your jaw joint and is thought to play a role in migraine headaches. If that nerve is pinched, it could trigger a migraine. Do you suffer from headaches and migraines in Owasso? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Lim to see if your jaw could be the trigger.
Earaches and ringing in the ears
Ear symptoms due to TMJ disorder? Yes, you heard that right! TMJ disorder can cause earaches, ear ringing, ear congestion, and hearing loss. Your jaw joint sits below your ears and can pull on ligaments connecting to your inner ear.
Difficulty chewing or biting
TMJ disorder can cause difficulty with chewing or biting. You may feel unable to open your mouth all the way or that you need to exert more force than usual when chewing. This is a telltale sign that your jaw is out of balance.
Jaw locking or popping
Jaw noises are common for those with TMJ disorder. If you can hear your jaw click or pop when you open your mouth, it means your jaw is slipping in and out of place. Eventually, your jaw could degrade, and you could experience the alarming condition of a locked jaw. Your jaw could become stuck in an open position. If this happens, stay calm and see your Owasso TMJ dentist. Dr. Lim can safely unlock your jaw without causing further damage.
Neck and shoulder pain
Neck and shoulder pain are other common signs of TMJ. Your jaw plays a significant role in your upper body. Your powerful jaw muscles become fatigued when pulling your jaw back into alignment. After some time, your jaw muscles may seek support from your neck and shoulder muscles, causing aches and pain.
Dizziness and vertigo
Remember when we said TMJ disorder could affect your ears? Your ears help you balance and know where you are in space. You could become dizzy and disoriented when your jaw muscles pull your ear canal. Some people even experience vertigo and can no longer perform their favorite activities until they seek treatment.
Are you experiencing some of these symptoms? Make an appointment with Dr. Lim and his compassionate dental team.
Tingling fingers and arms
Your jaw muscles and bone structure can pinch the nerves that run through your joint. Over time, you may notice tingling in your fingers and arms.
Eliminate Your TMJ Pain Once and For All
Dr. Heng Lim is an experienced TMJ dentist in Owasso, OK, who trained at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and earned a fellowship. His unique and specialized training helps him treat complex issues like TMJ disorder and promote whole-body health.
Are you ready to end your TMJ pain and get your life back? Call Dr. Lim at (918) 274-3779 or make an appointment online. He and his compassionate dental team can treat your TMJ to increase your quality of life.
