Are you suffering from migraines, frequent headaches, jaw pain, or aching pain in your face? These are all symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD. This condition can make chewing, talking, and other daily activities painful and difficult.
At Legacy Dental, we have a variety of treatment options available for our patients who suffer from TMD. Dr. Semerad and Dr. Larsen provide a complete evaluation of the jaw and mouth to determine the best treatment options for each individual patient. You don’t need to keep suffering from headaches and jaw pain!
What Causes TMD? Signs Of TMD.
Many things can contribute to the development of TMD. Stress can be a factor, as well as anything that can cause tension in the jaw and surrounding muscle groups.
A few common causes can be:
- Grinding teeth or clenching your jaw (also referred to as bruxism)
- Injury to the neck or jaw from trauma, such as an auto accident.
- Improper bite alignment
- Arthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Dislocation or erosion of the joint
What Is TMD?
The temporomandibular joints are located on both sides of the face, just in front of the ears. These joints allow the lower jaw (mandible) to move in relation to the upper jaw (maxilla). These joints are stabilized by muscles and other soft tissues. There is a disc, or cushion, which lies in the space between the lower and upper jaw.
- Ear aches, ear infections, and or hearing problems
- Jaw locking or stuck in the open- or closed-mouth position
- Pain or tenderness in the face, jaw joint area, neck, and shoulders
- Pain or tenderness in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouth wide
- Unusual clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth (can be with or without pain)
- Opening the jaw and experiencing lots of pain
- Limited ability to open the mouth very wide
- Difficulty chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite, as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
- Swelling on one or both sides of the face
- Other common symptoms of TMD include toothaches, recurrent headaches, neck aches, dizziness, upper shoulder pain, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
How Can TMD Treatment Help?
Treatment of TMD is dependent on the cause of symptoms. Dr. Semerad and Dr. Larsen have sought out extensive additional training in treating this often misunderstood disorder, and they are experienced in determining the underlying cause of symptoms. Treatment modalities may include in-office stretching of muscles, home exercises, appliance therapy, treatment of underlying sleep apnea (as sometimes patients clench or grind teeth during sleep to disrupt an apneic event), correction of underlying bite problems, and facial rejuvenation of muscular trigger points.
You Do Not Have To Keep Living With The Discomfort
Chronic jaw pain, persistent headaches, and the daily limitations that come with untreated TMJD can quietly erode quality of life in ways that are easy to dismiss as simply the way things are. They are not. Effective, evidence-based treatment is available, and the relief that patients experience when the underlying cause of their symptoms is properly identified and addressed can be genuinely life-changing.
At Legacy Dental, we take TMD seriously because we take our patients seriously. Dr. Semerad and Dr. Larsen have pursued extensive additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition precisely because they understand how much it affects the patients who live with it. If you have been managing jaw pain, frequent headaches, or any of the symptoms described on this page, you deserve a thorough evaluation from a team that knows what to look for and how to help.
Call our office or book your consultation online today. Patients throughout Omaha, NE, trust Legacy Dental for compassionate, comprehensive TMD care, and we look forward to helping you find the relief you have been searching for.
