Pain is the body’s way of telling you that something is wrong and needs attention. If the pain you are feeling is in your head, neck, and shoulders, then this may actually be due to a problem in your jaw. Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a condition that affects the joints on either side of your head that allow you to open and close your mouth to talk, chew, yawn and even laugh. With TMJ therapy, Dr. Renee Corbitt in Ft. Worth, TX, treats this uncomfortable ailment by non-surgical means.
Usually, TMJ is the result of a bite problem that affects the jaw. If some of your teeth are not well structured, or if teeth are worn because of grinding or clenching, then the jaw’s muscles may reposition the joints out of their sockets in order to make your upper and lower teeth fit together. Other possible causes of TMJ are some kind of traumatic injury to the head, face or neck that affects the jaw, arthritis, infection, some auto-immune diseases or a genetic predisposition to TMJ.
The Symptoms of TMJ
Although the most commonly mentioned symptom of TMJ is pain while chewing, talking or yawning, other symptoms include:
- A clicking or popping sound when you open or close your mouth
- Swelling on the side of the face
- Morning headaches and daytime tension headaches
- The feeling of an earache, but no sign of infection
- Sensitive teeth, but no sign of dental problems
- The feeling of a stiff or locked jaw
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
TMJ Therapy for Relief
At your regularly scheduled dental checkups, Dr. Corbitt always checks for sign of TMJ. If found, then she will talk to you about a plan to help relieve the painful symptoms you’re having. One of the most common and successful treatments simply requires that you wear a custom fitted oral appliance at night. Wearing this appliance helps to correct your bite—and avoid the effects of any teeth grinding and clenching, too—so that your bite’s natural alignment is restored. This, combined with techniques to help you manage stress, can ease TMJ’s painful symptoms.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If you would like to learn more about how TMJ therapy with Dr. Corbitt in Ft. Worth, TX, can relieve your painful symptoms, then call our office today. We also conveniently serves patients in Arlington, Richland Hills, Forest Hill and Haltom City and throughout the DFW Metroplex.