Have you found that your jaw feels sore lately? Perhaps that soreness has made its way into your face or you find that you have been suffering from chronic headaches. When you begin dealing with a medley of symptoms located in your head, face, and surrounding structures, it is time to diagnose and treat TMJ disorder (TMD). Not sure if this oral issue is affecting your daily life? We invite you to learn more about common symptoms. The sooner we help you identify TMD as the underlying cause your discomfort, the faster we may provide you with relief, while inhibiting the development of long-term damage.
About TMJ Disorder
First, you must understand what your TMJs are. Short for temporomandibular joints, these are the jaw joints – one located on either side of your head – that provide movement to your jaw. They are closely connected with nerves and muscles. When your jaw joints begin to function beneath their capacity as a result of injury or stress, you may find that discomfort does not only occur strictly within the joints – it spreads throughout the surrounding areas. We can treat TMJ disorder to alleviate the stress and tension placed on your joints, preventing serious damage.
Common Symptoms
Is it a simple headache or are you suffering from TMJ disorder? A good way to discover whether TMD may affect your life before you visit us for a checkup is to consider the following symptoms:
- Your jaw joint area feels tired, sore, or tender
- You suffer from clicking or similar noises in your jaw when you move it – often when you chew
- You experience consistent pain or discomfort in your ears, head, face, neck, and/or shoulders
- Your jaw locks momentarily sometimes when you open or close your mouth
- You suffer from tinnitus
TMJ Treatment
We will provide you with personalized treatment, which may include pain medication to reduce discomfort, exercises to relax your jaw joints, an oral appliance you will wear at night to relieve pressure, or, in severe cases, oral surgery.
ABOUT YOUR DOWNEY DENTISTS:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, DDS, provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health so they can enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
