Are you experiencing jaw pain, difficulty chewing, and/or clicking and locking of your jaw? If so then you may have a TMJ disorder.
TMJ, also known as Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, is an extremely common disorder, which affects over 10 million Americans with around 3 million being diagnosed each year.
Your temporomandibular joint is the hinge that connects your lower jawbone, called the mandible, to the temporal bones of your skull. You can locate this joint by placing your fingers just in front of your ears and moving your jaw up and down. These joints allow you to freely move your jaw up and down and side to side, so that you are able to eat, talk, yawn, etc. However, a TMJ disorder will hinder these functions of the jaw, and even make the natural functions of the jaw painful.
Common symptoms of TMJ include:
- Pain in the face, jaw, ear, or mouth
- Difficulty chewing
- Joint cracking/clicking, locking, or tenderness
- Headache
- Muscle Spasms
Many of the previously listed symptoms of TMJ can also be symptoms of various other disorders, so make sure to consult with your dentist if you experience any of these issues, or contact our office to schedule a free consultation.
The main treatments for temporomandibular joint dysfunction are medication, stabilization splints or bite guards, and therapy.
In extreme cases, our Northern Virginia surgeons may be recommended when conservative treatments fail to alleviate the pain and discomfort of TMJ disorder. If you or anyone you know suffers from extreme chronic jaw pain due to TMJ disorder, call our office at 703.388.2805 today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Gocke. Don’t continue to live with the chronic pain from TMJ, when you don’t have to!
