TMJ disorder refers to a range of symptoms that include everything from headaches, facial pain, and jaw pain to clicking or popping in the jaw and limited jaw movement. TMJ disorder causes chronic discomfort in the jaw, teeth, face, head, neck, shoulder, and back in many people. It is also linked to snoring, grinding of teeth, recurrent ear infections, and a narrow airway.
With a disorder that involves so many different systems, there is much misinformation floating about. TMJ disorder myths can lead to people seeking information becoming confused and misled. We’ve compiled a list of 6 typical misconceptions and symptoms.
Myth #1: TMJ is a medical disorder.
Truth: TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint. Temporomandibular disorder, or TMD, is the pain in your jaw and the muscles that control it. Most people incorrectly refer to the disorder as TMJ when the abbreviation for the medical condition should be TMD.
Myth #2: TMD is uncommon.
Truth: TMJ issues are thought to impact about 10 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. According to some estimates, up to 75% of adults have indicators of joint dysfunction, but only 5% of those persons seek therapy. TMD can affect people of all ages, but women and adults between the ages of 20 and 40 may be more susceptible.
Myth #3: TMD symptoms are all the same.
Truth: Temporomandibular joint diseases include a wide range of symptoms; thus, each person’s TMD experience is unique based on how it affects them.
Myth #4: TMD is only caused by accidents and injuries.
Truth: While a large majority of TMD instances involve an injury such as whiplash or a direct impact as a result of a car accident, the damage is not the cause of all TMD cases. Malocclusion (a poor bite in which your upper and lower jaws do not meet when your mouth is closed) and bruxism (teeth grinding) can both induce jaw pain by putting stress on the jaw’s hard and soft tissues.
Myth #5: TMJ disorder is simply a jaw problem.
Truth: TMJ disorder impacts various systems since so many systems are interrelated, especially in the face. For instance, it’s been linked to:
- Sleep Issues
- Dental Health Issues
- Neck Pain
- Inadequate Nutrition
- Headaches and migraines
- Facial pain
- Jaw pain
- Snoring and sleep apnea
- Grinding (bruxism)
- Vertigo
- Ringing in the ears
Myth #6: Surgery is the only way to cure TMJ issues.
Dr. Buck employs a range of therapeutic strategies to alleviate the symptoms of TMJ condition in his patients. These are some of the methods:
Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation with Ultra-Low Frequency (ULF-TENS)
ULF-TENS is a technique for relaxing muscles that uses rhythmic pulsing to increase blood flow and encourage the generation of endorphins in the body.
Orthotics
An orthotic is a removable appliance that is worn over the teeth. The neuromuscular dentist can alter the plastic without adjusting the teeth until the patient’s bite is stable with the orthotic. Once your symptoms have subsided and your bite is stable, your dentist can proceed to the next stage of permanently repositioning your bite.
Long-Term Planning
- Coronoplasty: smoothing and reshaping the enamel
- Removable Overlay Partials: permanent orthotics
- Reconstruction: making the teeth higher using crowns
- Orthodontics: using braces, Invisalign, etc.
Find TMD or TMJ Disorder Relief in Washington
Dr. Buck is a facial and epigenetic orthopedist based in the state of Washington. Dr. Buck, and his fellow ENT physicians and pulmonologists, by combining their expertise, help patients find relief from TMJD. With Dr. Buck and his team, relief from the severity and alleviating symptoms of TMJD are possible. For more information on Dr. Buck’s practice and the treatment options he provides, please schedule an appointment by giving us a call today at 425-361-7499. Additionally, one may contact us by filling out our online form.
