TMJ and TMD describe problems concerning your jaw joint. TMJ stands forTtemporomandibular joint, which is the joints that connects your jaw to your skull and TMD stands for Temporomandibular Disorder. TMD and TMJ symptoms include pain in your jaw area or a clicking sound. While nothing can cure these ailments, diagnosis and treatment is important because they can lead to more serious conditions.

Symptoms and Causes of TMJ

There are a variety of causes of TMJ and TMD, such as teeth clenching or grinding causing stress to your TM joints. It’s possible you are suffering from arthritis or some other disease or injury that can cause tears or misalignment in your jaw. Regardless of the cause, TMJ can cause pain, clicking, stiff jaw muscles, pain when opening your mouth or yawning, frequent neck aches, grinding of your teeth and more.

Treatment of TMJ

While there is no complete cure for TMD, there are many ways to help ease the pain and discomfort. Dr. Michael Yeh, Dr. Trisha Le and associates will help create the best treatment plan for you so you are able alleviate the pain and stress. Your dentist can help provide pain relievers or steroids to help reduce your pain and may suggest at home treatments you can do such as resting your jaw, applying ice or heat and keeping your teeth apart. We an also recommend and prescribe appliances to keep your jaw from clenching or moving and to relieve tension, such as night guards, splits or stabilizers.

TMJ is an uncomfortable and frustrating condition but you are not alone and there are ways the team at Lynnwood Dental Excellence Center can ease your pain and prevent further damage or problems!