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Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders can cause severe discomfort and pain in the jaw and surrounding muscles of the face, making it hard to do basic mouth movements. This pain can be transferred to other areas of the head and face, leading to significant disruptions to daily life. Our TMJ clinic in Melbourne offers comprehensive care plans to manage and alleviate these symptoms.
The temporomandibular joint connects your lower jaw bone (the mandible) to your skull. There are two TMJs — one on either side of the jaw. Having one on either side is what allows your jaw to open and close, in turn ensuring that you can eat, speak and make facial expressions. This joint can be found by placing your fingers just in front of your ears and opening and closing your mouth.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction refers to situations where either one or both of the joints in your mouth do not act as they are meant to. Seven out of ten people will have a problem with this joint at some stage of their life. TMJ disorders can impact on your ability to eat and speak, and when very severe, your ability to breathe. Our TMJ specialist in Melbourne are equipped to diagnose and treat these conditions effectively.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, speak to our team for help. Common signs and symptoms of TMJ disorder include:
TMJ dysfunction can be caused by such things as missing teeth, stress and tension, teeth grinding, arthritis, fractures and injuries, as well as incorrect bite and malocclusion. While stress can be treated in ways other than medical, many of these issues require specific treatments to fix the underlying problems, such as orthodontic treatments for malocclusion or implants for missing teeth.
TMJ dysfunction can be caused by such things as missing teeth, stress and tension, teeth grinding, arthritis, fractures and injuries, as well as incorrect bite and malocclusion. Dysfunction can be treated in a variety of ways, including jaw exercises for your TMJ. Many of the issues that cause TMJ dysfunction require specific treatments to fix, such as orthodontics for malocclusion or implants for missing teeth.
TMJ disorder can create significant pain and make everyday life more difficult than it needs to be. At Oakleigh Dental, we want to help everyone live as pain-free as they can, so they can smile more widely. Get in touch with us today to find out if you could benefit from dental intervention or treatment in any way. Visit our TMJ clinic in Melbourne to receive expert care and alleviate your discomfort.
Most TMJ symptoms will typically clear up in around three weeks, but more severe symptoms and dysfunction may take longer, particularly when caused by bruxism or more external medical issues.
TMJ headaches are those that include face, cheek and head pain caused by a TMJ disorder. Pain in the joint can spread upwards into other areas of the head. These headaches may also come with ringing in the ears or a swollen face. TMJ headache relief may include anti-inflammatory medications, jaw stretching and ice packs.
The main TMJ pressure points and areas of pain can be spread throughout the eyes, ears, mouth, forehead, cheeks, tongue, teeth and throat. These pain areas may be relieved by targeted TMJ stretches, which your dentist can recommend to you, or even a massage.
Since the joint is adjacent to the ears, TMJ ear pain can be a common symptom of dysfunction. The experience may be a feeling of clogged ears or even ringing in the ears (tinnitus). If you are experiencing an earache or other pain in that area, it may be a sign that you have a problem with your TM joint.
Braces can help to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorder. Braces are used to align the teeth and jaws properly, which improves function and stability of the jaw and relieves strain from the temporomandibular joint.
TMJ disorder can also be caused by a variety of other things outside of misalignment, so braces may not fix the problem entirely. However, they should contribute to a reduction of symptoms.
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