TMD FAQs
What is TMD? 
Temporomandibular disorder, known as TMD, is a cycle of pain, muscle spasms, and joint imbalance where the jaw meets the skull. The lower jaw meets the skull at the temporomandibular joint, known as TMJ. This joint connect the temporal bone of the skull with the mandible bone of the jaw. Cushioning these two bones is a thin disc of cartilage. Five muscles support the joint.
What are the Symptoms of TMD?
When the balance of these bones, cartilage, and muscles is lost, TMD can cause:
- Headaches
- Earaches
- Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
- A clicking or popping in the joint
- A dull aching pain around the ear that spreads into the face
- Sore or painful jaw muscles
What Causes TMD?
This cycle of pain, spasms, and joint imbalance can be started by clenching or grinding the teeth, a bad bite caused by missing teeth or poorly aligned teeth, a blow to the joint, arthritis, or emotional stress.
How do I break the TMD Cycle?
Clenching and grinding will often go away once a person’s stress is reduced. In the meantime, there are other ways to break the TMD cycle. You can reduce the muscle spasms and pain with:
- Moist heat
- Inflammation reducing drugs and muscle relaxants
- Muscle massage
- A soft diet
To restore balance to the joint, we can crown teeth, fill spaces, adjust the bite using a procedure called equilibration, or even move teeth. A splint, which is a plastic mouthpiece, can reduce clenching and grinding, which will also help restore harmony to the joint. In extremely severe cases of TMD, surgery may be necessary to repair the part of the joint.
In closing, our dentists are specifically trained to assess your TMD and provide services which will end the pain and discomfort that TMD causes. Feel free to call our offices at 1-888-790-0309.
Sincerely,
The Medical Center Dental Group
Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell, and Dr. Elizabeth O'Sullivan-Winslow
Information provided by the Caesy online database
