TMJ Pain

Understanding TMJ Pain

TMJ PainTMJ is the abbreviation for “temporomandibular joint.” The TMJ is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of the skull. This joint allows your jaw the flexibility it needs to chew, talk, and perform other daily actions with your mouth. Knowing that people rely on this joint and the surrounding muscles to be able to communicate and eat, it’s obvious why any pain in the temporomandibular joint would interfere with a person’s life and cause extreme discomfort.

What’s Causing My TMJ Pain?

Dentists are still working out all the root causes of TMJ pain, but there are some likely candidates for much of the discomfort that Danbury residents experience. Those who fall into the following categories may be at a higher risk for temporomandibular disorders (TMD):

  • People who grind their teeth
  • People who have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
  • People who have high levels of stress or anxiety (stress can cause people to tighten facial muscles and put pressure on the TMJ)
  • People who have suffered a blunt force to the face or head, which could cause dislocation in the jaw

Danbury, CT patients with TMD can suffer through a number of symptoms and maladies, such as pain or tenderness in the face, jaw joint area, or even their necks and shoulders. The pain is typically most prevalent while chewing or talking.

Other people experience limited mobility in the temporomandibular joint or often feel their jaw clicking or popping as they open or close their mouth. In more severe cases, the jaw can even become locked in open or closed positions. Even if the person does not experience any pain alongside these symptoms, they should still seek the help of a dental health care professional. For Danbury residents, the best place to learn more about temporomandibular disorders is from Drs. Tagliarini and Rosenstein at Quality Dental of Danbury.

How We Can Help Treat TMJ Pain

If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in your jaw, contact Quality Dental of Danbury. Our staff will provide an examination to help determine the cause of your joint pain and discuss your options for treatment. For minor TMDs, sometimes a temporary change in diet is enough to reduce the pressure put on the TMJ. Icing the joint can also help relieve soreness and inflammation. We may also prescribe medications and muscle relaxants to provide relief.

More severe cases call for more complex treatment. These cases sometimes require orthodontics, dental restorations, or cortisone injections in the joint. We may also flush the joint to remove fluids causing inflammation of the TMJ. Rarely will we ever recommend major surgery to treat a case of TMD, but for the gravest of cases, it is an option.

If you're experiencing TMJ pain, call Quality Dental of Danbury today at (203) 743-2232 to schedule your consultation with our Board-certified staff.