Getting Treatment for TMD

Temporomandibular disorder, or TMD, is a condition that results from complications with the jaw joints, jaws and the facial muscles. This disorder makes moving the jaws difficult, hence affecting a person’s ability to chew, yawn and talk, among other things. TMD affects the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, which connects the skull to the jaw bone.

There are a number of reasons why TMD occurs. Arthritis is the leading known cause of TMD. While osteoarthritis causes the cartilage in the joints to weaken and break down, rheumatoid arthritis causes fluid to build up in the joints. These two kinds of arthritis make a person more prone to developing TMD.

Habitually grinding or clenching the teeth can put undue pressure on the TMJ, which leads to TMD. Chronic stress is known to make a person clench or grind his teeth without being aware of it. When the TMJ’s disc slips or gets dislocated for any reason, a person can also suffer from TMD.

If you have TMD, you may experience any of the following symptoms: the inability to open your jaw completely, lock-jaw, difficulty chewing, a misaligned bite, pain or tenderness in the face, and swelling.

Other symptoms include dizziness, toothaches, earaches and hearing problems. These symptoms, however, may also indicate a different medical problem unless they accompany any of the symptoms mentioned above.

If you think you have TMD, set an appointment with your South Carolina dentist as soon as possible. The dentist will give you a thorough oral examination and make the correct diagnosis. To detect TMD, the dentist will check for limited motion whenever you move your mouth or jaws. He will also ask for panoramic x-rays.

Have your jaw checked by Dr. Doug Forbes today by calling Total Dental Care of South Carolina at 803-272-4162 right away.

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