November Is TMJ Awareness Month
November is TMJ Awareness Month, a time dedicated to making more people familiar with TMJ and TMD. If you don’t already know, TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which is the ball and socket joint that attaches the lower jaw to the base of the skull. If you place your fingers on the back of your jaw near your ear and open your mouth you can feel the temporomandibular joint move. You may also hear the term TMD, which refers to temporomandibular joint disorder. TMJ and TMD are often used interchangeably to refer to this condition.
TMD is not always the easiest to pinpoint because so many of the symptoms resemble other medical conditions. In fact, it is not uncommon for people to visit their GP because they think they have a sinus or ear infection but then end up frustrated when the treatment plan is ultimately unsuccessful.
Common symptoms of TMJ and TMD include:
- Jaw pain and discomfort
- Face, back, or neck pain
- Frequent headaches
- Earache or ringing in the ears
- Lockjaw
- Clicking or popping of the jaw
We Can Help
While it can be difficult to know what is causing your TMD symptoms, we are experts who can provide a diagnosis, and we will develop a specialized treatment plan that is personalized to your particular case. We may recommend something as simple as relaxation techniques or possibly something more involved, like orthodontic treatment. However, there is no way to know which treatment is right for you if you don’t visit our office for help.
If you are interested in learning more about TMD and seeing our patients’ first-hand experiences, click the link and visit our website: https://www.kewaskumdentist.com/treatments/tmd/
The first step to healing is to schedule an appointment at our office located in Kewaskum, WI. Once you have a diagnosis and we see the particulars of your case, we will recommend a treatment plan. Don’t let TMD keep you from living your life to the fullest. We hope to see you soon!
