Maybe you have had some jaw pain or a slight “popping” accompanied by some pain that occurs when you open your mouth or chew. It’s a fleeting occurrence for the most part, but what if it were more?
It is estimated by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research that over 10 million Americans are affected by temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, or more simply, TMJ. Usually the pain or popping is temporary. However, many people do not realize they may be at risk for the syndrome.
Some risk factors include:
- Trauma to the jaw at any point in life
- Long term or chronic, teeth grinding or clenching (an occurrence many have while sleeping)
- Age and gender – Women 18-44 years have a greater risk
- Poor posture in the neck and upper back which places strain on jaw muscle function
- Stress which leads to jaw clenching
- Preexisting arthritic or inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis
- Connective tissue diseases which may affect the temporomandibular joint
The risk factors above illustrate how so many Americans can be at risk for this, at times, very painful condition. Thankfully, for those in Tennessee experiencing jaw pain, they are able to reach out to Our Dentist for his work in treating TMJ.
the Dentist is a specialist located in Brentwood and works with patients to increase their quality of life by decreasing their pain with a treatment plan tailored to each patients’ needs. If you are experiencing pain and feel that some of the risk factors listed above could point toward TMJ as a possible cause for your ailments, reach out to the Dentist and his team. They are ready with a plan to get you out of pain.
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