Columbus TMJ Dentist

What is TMJ? It is an abbreviation for the temporomandibular joints, which are the joints that join your upper and lower jaw bones together. "TMJ" is also used as a kind of shorthand to refer to disorders of those joints. Problems with the TMJ are more accurately referred to as temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD).

The American Dental Association does not recognize a "TMJ dentist" specialty, so sometimes it can be difficult to identify a dentist that can help you if you suffer from TMJ issues.

Causes of TMJ Dysfunction

When the teeth, chewing muscles and jaw joints do not work harmoniously together, the result can be a cycle of pain, muscle spasms and problems with the joints themselves. TMJ issues can begin in a variety of ways:

• missing or poorly aligned teeth causing a misaligned bite;
  
  
• clenching or grinding of the teeth;
  
  
• arthritis;
  
  
• injury or trauma to the joint(s), or
  
  
• emotional stress.

One or all of the above symptoms can instigate problems with the TMJ, or the cause may not be readily identifiable. We will strive to discover any underlying issues that are leading to the TMJ dysfunction, as treating you for pain without addressing the root causes would merely be masking the signal telling you something is wrong.

Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction

Some symptoms of TMJ seem pretty obvious: pain in the joints, clicking or popping of the jaw joints during chewing, or difficulty opening and closing your mouth.

Others are not as straightforward: headaches, worn teeth, or painful muscles in the face.

Some symptoms only make sense when you understand a good amount about human anatomy: earaches, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), pain behind the eyes, tingling hands, or painfully sore muscles in the neck and shoulders.

Treatment of TMJ Dysfunction

Most cases of TMJ dysfunction can be successfully treated with a simple appliance. This custom-made orthotic is designed to gently reposition your jaw, and correct the way your upper and lower teeth come together. After several months of wearing this orthotic (also called a splint), your symptoms should be dramatically reduced. During this time, we will closely monitor your progress and make adjustments as necessary.

We will also make a plan to address the issues that produced the problem in the first place. It may mean replacing teeth that were lost, or placing crowns or veneers on your teeth to correct the way the biting surfaces come together. If your problem was stress-induced, we may recommend additional professionals to help get the stress under control.

If you suffer from any of the symptoms described above and have been frustrated in seeking solutions, give us a call. We may be able to ease your pain.