TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, is a severely debilitating condition that affects a person’s jaw joints; TMJ is normally characterized by the sufferer experiencing pain the muscles of the face, head, jaws and neck. Many people believe that TMJ is a condition they have to put up with, but orthodontics can help relieve the symptoms of TMJ.
TMJ occurs when the joint which connects the mandible (lower jaw) with the temporal bone in the skull becomes misaligned, and there are many causes and factors which can lead to TMJ, from misaligned bite, to bruxism, and skull trauma.
In addition to the symptoms given above, TMJ can also be characterized by the clicking, or popping of jaw joints; by jaws locking or sticking in open or closed positions; or by changes in a person’s biting alignment. In fact, there are many symptoms of TMJ, and often a diagnosis from an orthodontist can confirm whether TMJ exists in a patient.
While many sufferers of TMJ tend to live through the pain, others rely on relaxation, physiotherapy and massage techniques to relieve the symptoms. However, for more prolonged relief, TMJ can be successfully treated by an orthodontist through the use of dental braces.
The braces work by slowly altering the position of a patient’s teeth, helping to realign their biting pattern by shifting teeth through exerted pressure on one or more teeth. As the teeth shift into the desired position, the pressure on the mandible joint is lessened, helping to relieve the symptoms of the disorder.
Sufferers of TMJ needn’t feel they have to battle through the pain associated with the condition. TMJ will not improve of its own accord, and so sufferers should seek advice from an orthodontist for diagnosis of the condition, and also methods to relieve and cure the symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder.
To learn if orthodontic treatment is recommended in your case, contact the office of Dr. Seth Newman, serving Nassau County, at 516-626-2060 to schedule your professional consultation today.
