November is TMJ Awareness Month and this provides Dr. Greg L. LaVecchia an opportunity to highlight issues surrounding your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) — the joints that connect your lower jaw (the mandible) to the bones that connect to your skull (the temporal bones).
Chronic jaw pain is never something you should leave undiagnosed. Dr. LaVecchia and the dental team in Rosslyn are here to help so that you can be treated for any TMJ issues in the best way for you.
TMJ, also known as TMD (temporomandibular disorders), is a common problem for both men and women, but symptoms can be felt more severely for women in childbearing years. Some symptoms to look out for include:
Pain around your jaw muscles and area in front of your ears
Jaw locking or limited movement in the jaw
Popping or clicking noise when you’re chewing
Migraines, persistent headaches or ear aches
Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Restricted movement of your jaw bone/muscles
TMJ issues may arise for a number of reasons, and sometimes the cause may remain unknown. However if you suffer from any of the following issues, you may be more susceptible to experience a TMD if you have:
Misaligned teeth
Experienced an injury or trauma to the jaw area
Suffer from autoimmune diseases (where the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue)
Suffer from arthritis
Undergo medical procedures where your mouth is open for prolonged periods of time
Don’t let TMJ issues go untreated for too long as the symptoms can affect your sleep, eating and overall quality of life. Your Rosslyn dentist is your first point of contact to recognize any issues related to TMDs, so be sure to mention any symptoms you are experiencing at your appointment. We look forward to helping you alleviate your symptoms.