Don’t let headaches and migraines rule your life! For TMD treatment and symptom relief, call Dr. Matthew Bridges and the team at Chisholm Trail Smile Center in Duncan. Located on West Elk Ave., our dental office serves patients of all ages. To schedule a TMD consultation, call 580-255-4880.

In today’s blog, you’ll learn:

• Causes of TMD
• Symptoms and Misdiagnoses Related to TMD
• Non-surgical treatment for TMD

What’s causing your headaches, migraines, and jaw pain?

Under your ears, about an inch toward your face, you can feel bulges under your cheeks. These are the hinge joints that hold your lower jaw to your skull, and they’re called TMJs or temporomandibular joints. When you open and close your mouth, the joints should glide, not click, pop, or lock.

All of your lower jaw movements involve the TMJs: speaking, eating, drinking, yawning, etc. If your TMJs ache, the connected muscles may feel sore because when your mouth is closed, they aren’t properly seated so they never rest. Even while you sleep, misaligned jaw joints continue trying to hold the mandible in the correct resting position, which offers no rest at all!

So what’s the root cause of TMD? One or more of these causes can trigger TMD:

• Stress
• Genetics
• Arthritis
• Jaw injury
• Bruxism
• Malocclusion
• Disc erosion
• Damaged cartilage

Symptoms of TMD

As stated, headaches, migraines, and popping or clicking jaw joints are common symptoms of TMD. You may also notice one or more of these symptoms as well as a declining quality of life.

• Pain in or over the TMJs
• Tenderness or aching of the jaw
• Earaches or tinnitus
• Jerky or painful chewing
• General pain in the face
• Joint locking, so you cannot fully open or close your mouth
• Limited range of motion in jaw joints
• Tooth pain in molars
• Vertigo or dizziness
• Swelling over or around the jaw joint(s)
• Neck and/or shoulder pain

The following conditions are sometimes misdiagnoses of TMD, according to the Merck Manual:

• Sinusitis
• Giant cell arteritis
• Tension or cluster headaches
• Postherpetic neuralgia
• Complex regional pain syndrome type 1
• Head or neck trauma
• Toothache
• Cardiac pain
• Salivary gland disorders
• Obstruction of ear canals or eustachian tubes
• Otitis media
• Fibromyalgia
• Whiplash affecting muscles or cervical spine
• Eagle syndrome
• Glossopharyngeal neuralgia
• Subacute thyroiditis
• Depressed fracture of the zygomatic arch
• Infection
• Pericoronitis
• Tetanus
• Osteochondroma of the coronoid process

TMD Treatment

At Chisholm Trail Smile Center in Duncan, Dr. Bridges offers TMD diagnosis and TMD treatment, without surgery. A simple oral appliance known as a TMD night guard keeps upper and lower teeth from touching while you sleep, ending any clenching and grinding issues (called bruxism).

The appliance also holds the jaw joints in their proper resting position, so they can actually rest and recuperate while you sleep. While this non-invasive treatment solution is not effective on TMD patients who need surgery, most TMD cases can be effectively treated without surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Some patients wear the night guard indefinitely. Others find that the appliance retrains jaw joint musculature so that the jaw retains its ideal resting position when the mouth is closed, without wearing the night guard. These patients do not have to wear the night guard forever but can use it if and when symptoms reemerge.

If you suffer from TMJ pain, headaches, and other symptoms of TMD, contact us today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bridges. You can submit a message online from our website or call 580-255-4880. We will help you get out of pain, once and for all!

The post TMD Treatment for Headache & Jaw Pain Relief appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Dr. Matthew Bridges is passionate about patient education to make sure this condition is better understood. Furthermore, at Chisholm Trail Smile Center, he can diagnose and treat temporomandibular disorders with effective, non-invasive care.

If you suffer from the symptoms of TMD, contact our office today.

What is TMD?

Temporomandibular disorders are a group of disorders that affect the jaw joints and muscles. In some cases, it may involve joint dysfunction, such as a slipped disc or bone injury. In other cases, muscle inflammation may be the main concern. Patients can also suffer from both joint and muscle problems.

TMD is quite common. An estimated 11 to 12 million US adults suffer from one of these conditions.

What’s the difference between TMJ and TMD?

The TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, located on each side of the jaw. TMD is a temporomandibular disorder, affecting those joints.

What causes the condition?

TMD can arise for many different reasons. Facial trauma or injuries to the TMJs are one cause. Excessive jaw strain, due to chronic teeth grinding, can also lead to TMD. 

In many cases, the exact cause is unclear, but there are certain risk factors. For instance, women are more likely to suffer than men. Genetics and stress can also play a role. 

How long does TMD last?

It can last a few days, a few weeks, or many years. Sometimes it can go away on its own. Quite frequently, however, the condition will flare up periodically, especially in times of stress. 

Fortunately, once patients seek treatment, discomfort often disappears after a few days!

Is TMD serious?

These disorders are not life threatening, but they can take a huge toll on your quality of life. Symptoms include: 

• Frequent headaches
• Jaw stiffness
• Facial pain
• Ear pain
• Tinnitus
• Neck and shoulder pain 
• Popping in the jaw joints
• Dizziness
• Pain or difficulty when eating

Moreover, temporomandibular disorders can seriously affect your bite and cause lasting damage to your teeth. In severe cases, eating may be restricted, and you could suffer from nutrient deficiency. 75% of surveyed patients report altering their diet in response to jaw pain.

What are my treatment options?

Dr. Bridges typically begins with a combination of simple, convenient treatments. In most cases, he will provide an oral appliance. This will reposition your jaw and alleviate pressure on your TMJs while you sleep. He may also suggest anti-inflammatory medications, jaw exercises, muscle relaxants, and lifestyle changes.  

If you have particularly severe TMD, Dr. Bridges may refer you to an orthodontist or oral surgeon.

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Bridges Today

Contact us to learn more about TMD and find out what is causing your jaw pain. 

You can reach our Duncan, OK, office online, or you can give us a call at 580-255-4880.

The post Everything You Should Know about TMD appeared first on Chisholm Trail.