Temporomandibular joint (TMJ)
Ever wonder what that joint is where your lower jaw is connected to your upper jaw? It’s called the temporomandibular joint and is often abbreviated to TMJ – you can see why.
The TMJ is vital, of course. It allows us speak and chew and breath properly and when it isn’t functioning properly people commonly experience mild to severe earaches and headaches. They may also not be able to open their mouths properly.
TMJ problems, as you might have guessed, are not uncommon. Diagnosing the problem properly is crucial to coming up with the right treatment.
Diagnosis
TMJ problems can be brought on by arthritis, by stress that causes you to grind your teeth at night or you may have injured your jaw and displaced the joint.
If you are experiencing difficulty opening your mouth or feeling frequent ear or headaches that you associate with your jaw, then you should consult an OMF surgeon.
The surgical expertise and thorough understanding of the aesthetics and function of the mouth, teeth, jaws and face allow an OMF surgeon to diagnose, treat and manage conditions, diseases, and injuries that might have an impact on your TMJ.
Treatment
The range of treatment is as broad as the possible causes of your discomfort, from NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), through stress management to bite plate or splint therapy through surgery. Given that range the first step is to consult an OMF surgeon for a thorough examination and diagnosis.