TMJ Symptoms

• Headaches including migraines
• Shoulder pain, neck pain and back pain
• Ringing or congestion in the ears
• Loose teeth
• Worn, chipped or cracked teeth and fillings
• Pain and sensitivity in the teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Clenching or grinding of the teeth
• Fractures at the gum line
• Pain or clicking and popping in the jaw joint
• Difficulty swallowing
• Numbness or tingling in the arms and fingers
• Limited opening of the mouth
• Loss of chewing efficiency

Causes of TMJ

TMJ disorders are generally caused by a combination of problems with the joint and stress on its surrounding structures. Some of the causes of joint problems include:

• Arthritis, injury, and dislocation of the joint, which can be due to an improperly-aligned bite or joint hyper-mobility (looseness of the jaw).
• Jaw clenching and teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) can put significant stress on the jaw muscles. People, who clench their teeth during the day and grind their teeth while asleep, will often suffer from muscle pain and tightness as well as damage to the teeth.
• Poor posture (e.g. holding the head forward while looking at your computer screen) can also strain the muscles of the jaw, face and neck.

The onset of this disorder can either be gradual or sudden. Fortunately for you, TMJ disorder is treatable. Through Neuromuscular Dentistry, we are now able to gently and gradually correct the position of your jaw. In most cases, by aligning the jaw and getting it back to its proper position, we will eliminate the symptoms associated with TMJ disorder from recurring.