The temporomandibular joint (or TMJ) connects your jaw to the temporal bone of your skull and is very important in coordinating the way in which your mouth is able to move. As well as this, it contains crucial nerves which go between the skull and the jaw. If a disorder develops in the TMJ then it can be very serious, not to mention rather painful too.
TMJ disorders will show themselves as pain when you yawn or even eating and talk. In very bad cases you might feel pain the area even when you are not moving your jaw at all. If things get worse then the pain and discomfort might spread to the neck and shoulders too. Needless to say, all of these symptoms can seriously hamper many day to day activities and it is worth sorting out if you want to avoid involuntary muscular spasms and even tinnitus.
Dentists are well placed to diagnose TMJ disorders because the TMJ is connected to the mouth. They might decide to give you an x-ray or a ‘clench’ test where you bite down to determine the site of the pain you feel. The problem might lie with the alignment of your teeth affecting your bite and TMJ has been linked with the process of bruxism or grinding your teeth in your sleep.
To solve this you might need to wear a brace to adjust the alignment of your teeth and, in rare cases, surgery is required. TMJ is worth taking seriously but usually it is easily resolved. You should always share any concerns you have with your City of Leeds dentist and they will be able to examine you and diagnose TMJ if it is occurring.
Tags: tmj
