Jaw Pain Causes and Symptoms

Our Glen Allen dentist and staff are focus on your oral health.  This is more than just regular dental cleanings and exams every 6 months.  Your oral health is comprised of soft tissues like your gums and tongue in addition to your bones and teeth.  We treat all aspects of your oral health in order to ensure you remain healthy.  Regular exams help us catch problems before they arise and require restorative dental procedures.  If caught early enough, many of the problems associated with your oral cavity can be quickly remedied.  Take jaw pain, for example…

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

TMD, or Temporomandibular joint disorder, is one such issue.  Temporomandibular joint disorder or dysfunction is the result of pain in your temporomandibular joint or TMJ.  We check each TMJ at every appointment looking for bite issues, premature wearing of enamel, and bone malfunction.   If you experience any jaw pain between appointments, contact our Glen Allen dentist office so we can take a look.  Symptoms may include pain in the jaw, frequent headaches, pain when eating, and facial swelling of the area.

What is my TMJ?

The temporomandibular joints sit on either side of your face, just below your ears.  This joint is hinged to your lower jaw which makes your mouth able to open and close.  If any of our Glen Allen dentist patients talk about pain when talking, chewing, or gritting their teeth, our first look is to the TMJs.

What is the Cause of TMD?

TMD can be inherited, a sign of arthritis, or from a facial or head injury.  It can also be the result of missing teeth.  When adult teeth are missing, the surrounding healthy teeth tend to float to the open space, compromising one’s bite.  This puts added stress on the joints and results in pain and TMD.

Catch TMJ Issues Early

If TMD is suspected or jaw pain is keeping you unfocused during the day and awake at night, seek immediate answers from our Glen Allen dentist.  We have the tools and experience to provide relief.  In some cases, a simple nightguard custom fit to your mouth will ease the pressure on your jaws and joints allowing them to get the rest they need to heal.  More extreme cases may need to be solved with restorative dentistry solutions.

It’s important to treat TMJ pain or TMD so that your gums and teeth remain in good condition.  The bite issues that can occur from bone wear and tear and teeth movement can compromise your oral health.  Temporary relief can be found with hot and cold alternating compresses, and over the counter pain relievers.  But, if the pain continues, an appointment with our Glen Allen dentist can get your oral health back on track.  Learn more about TMD on our Facebook page or give our office a call to discuss your symptoms.