CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/392251
Could you imagine all of the strange looks you would get? Jaw joints are one of the most complicated and most frequently used joints in the body. Thus, treating signifi- cant TMJ problems can be very difficult. And, like most other health problems, the earlier the treatment, the better the chance for success. TMJ problems are also one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in the body. Most often the major symptoms are jaw pain, loud grinding at night, clicking/popping, jaw locking and tooth pain. They also can contribute or be the underlying cause for things like ear pain, dizziness, neck pain, facial pain, headaches and migraines. Chronic tension headache pain is actually a very com- mon symptom in people with TMJ problems. Interestingly, the nerve center that controls headache pain is also the same nerve center that controls dental pain. Thus, den- tists who know how to properly diagnose and treat TMJ problems should be consulted early on for chronic head- ache and migraine patients. This is especially true for pa- tients who want a long-term solution other than relying on strong pain meds and for those headache patients who no one else can seem to help. TMJ symptoms can include jaw pain, loud grinding at night, clicking/popping, jaw locking, and tooth pain. TMJ problems are caused by either bad bites or by actual internal joint damage. Joint problems caused by bad bites are usually corrected easily by just adjusting the bite. On the other hand, internal joint damage is much more diffi- cult to treat. A thorough exam is very important to properly diagnose TMJ problems and to plan an appropriate course of treatment. Most of the time for joint damage problems, treatment requires an orthotic (fancy night guard) to prop- erly position your joints while they heal, temporary use of anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxing medications, and often physical therapy on head and neck muscles. Once the pain is gone and the joints are stable, the bite can then be adapted to complement the healthiest joint position. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 910.484.6011.