Pain is the body’s way of telling you something is wrong. If you are experiencing pain in your jaw, this may be a sign of TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. TMJ,or TMD, can affect the temporomandibular joint, the jaw muscles and nerves on either side of the face. Dr. Chris J. Devlin in State College, PA, offers TMJ therapy to non-surgically leave you smiling because the pain is gone.
What Causes the Pain of TMJ?
The temporomandibular joints, which are positioned in front of your ears, slide and rotate as you open and close your mouth to talk, chew, or yawn. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, the most common cause of TMJ is a bite problem that affects the joint. An incorrect bite may move the lower jaw out of place, thereby pushing the joints out of socket in order to force the upper and lower teeth to fit together. Other causes include normal wear and tear from aging, clenching your teeth and grinding your teeth.
What Are the Symptoms of TMJ?
The most common and often the first symptom of TMJ is pain while chewing. Discomfort may extend to the ears, neck and shoulders. Other symptoms of TMJ Disorder may include:
- A clicking or popping sound when opening or closing your mouth
- An earache
- Sensitive teeth
- Waking up with a headache
- A feeling that the jaw is “locked”
What Stops the Pain of TMJ?
Dr. Devlin is specially trained to treat TMJ disorder. To relieve your TMJ pain, Dr. Devlin will likely recommend a custom oral appliance to keep the jaw in its ideal resting position. He may also suggest rebuilding the surface of your back teeth in order to restore proper bite alignment.
Schedule An Appointment Today with Dr. Devlin and Relieve Your TMJ Symptoms
Had enough of the pain? Then call the office of Dr. Devlin in State College, PA, for an appointment. We treat Penn State students, as well as residents of Altoona, Centre Hall and Bellefonte.