TMJ in Northport, NY
The term "TMJ" has become a common descriptor used to relate a constellation of symptoms emanating from the head and the neck. There are overlapping factors that often combine, manifesting in a report of pain or of limitation of movement and/or function.
The majority of orofacial pain problems are muscular in nature with an orthopedic component. If there is no underlying medical disease, the success we see with treatment is predictable. Oral appliances can be designed to reduce excessive muscle firing activity of the orofacial muscles that we use to chew and speak. They can be designed to address tender tissue behind the jaw joint apparatus that has been compressed by increasing the available joint space to allow for healing.
Contributing Factors
- Stress
- Malocclusion
- Clenching and Grinding Habit
- History of Trauma - Acute or Chronic
- Sleep Apnea
- Underlying Medical Disease
Signs and Symptoms
- Pain, upon function
- Sudden change in how your teeth fit together or the sudden inability to fully close the teeth together
- Limitation in opening the jaw fully
- Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint which are associated with pain
- Locking of the jaw in either an open or closed position
Treatment
Treatment is problem-specific, highly individualized and most effective when recognized early. Please contact our office so that we can obtain a thorough history in order to determine the direction your treatment should take.
