A regular patient of ours, Marcy, came in recently for her regular cleaning complaining of jaw pain and tightness. She told us that previously she had sometimes felt her jaw was a little tight in the morning, but now the problem has become more pervasive. She was suffering from headaches, jaw pain, and limited jaw mobility. Our Westfield TMJ dentists determined that Marcy was suffering from TMJ disorder. Although these problems can be uncomfortable and disruptive, the good news is that there are treatment options available to help patients regain full functionality and comfort.

TMJ disorder refers to a dysfunction or malfunction of the temporomandibular joint. This joint connects the lower jaw to the skull—allowing you to talk, chew, and move your mouth from side to side. When this joint is inflamed or irritated, it can become painful to talk and chew—additionally; it may become difficult to actually open the law. Over time patients my find that their jaw “locks” or gets stuck as they try to open it.

TMJ disorder can be caused and exacerbated by a number of conditions. Patients who grind their teeth at night often suffer from TMJ complications. Bite misalignment and uneven teeth may also contribute to TMJ jaw problems.

With our modern understanding of dentistry, bite function, and the temporomandibular joint we can treat TMJ without resorting to extreme measures such as surgery. Our Westfield TMJ dentists correct TMJ dysfunction with comfortable, non-invasive dental appliances, which fit easily into the patient’s mouth when he or she sleeps. There’s no reasons to continue living with disruptive, painful TMJ disorder. The sooner you seek treatment the less likely it is that you’ll have lasting, long-term complications. Give our office a call if you or someone you know is suffering from TMJ disorder—

(908) 543-3215.