Just pronouncing it can be a challenge: temporomandibular joint, for which we can use the convenient shorthand TMJ. A disorder of the TMJ is, by extension, referred to as TMD. It’s a painful and complicated condition, but is treatable at Poss Sleep Apnea & TMJ Solutions in Brentwood TN.
There are many possible causes of TMD, and many possible symptoms, too. Pain might be in the jaw, which you would expect. But it can also be in the ear or the neck, and may even show up in the form of a headache.
Getting treatment can be frustrating. People with TMD have been told to give it time, to see if it gets better on its own. As they wait they’re advised to avoid anything chewy or sticky, like gum. Meanwhile, the pain continues. It can be very demoralizing.
One of the reasons treatment can be hit-and-miss is that the TMJ is a complicated joint. It is what connects the lower jaw bone to the base of the skull. It’s usually referred to in the singular, but of course, there are two points where it’s connected. It’s a remarkable thing, when you think about it, because a normal human jaw has such incredible range of motion.
The TMJ gets more use than almost any other joint in the body. That may account for the frequency of TMJ issues: more than fifteen percent of all adults in the United States report some kind of pain that can be traced to it. It affects women more often than men, in particular those in the twenty-to-forty age group. In some cases it is short-term, while in others, it can be chronic.
The key to successful treatment is in getting a proper diagnosis. At Poss Sleep Apnea & TMJ Solutions in Brentwood TN, we use advanced diagnositc technology for accurate diagnosis that leads t effective treatment. If you are suffering with TMD, or think you are, please contact us today to see how we can help.
