Do you suffer from unexplained jaw pain? Whether it be tightness or soreness in the jaw, a clicking or popping sound when you open the jaw to speak, chew, or breathe, or pain that is worsened by activities like speaking or chewing, you could be suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ disorder.
WHAT CAUSES TMJ DISORDER?
TMJ disorder is not actually one thing, and unfortunately does not have one simple cause. In fact, the National Institutes of Health classify TMJ disorder as a group of more than 30 conditions that affect the jaw. With so many possibilities, diagnosis and treatment can often be difficult, but thankfully Dr. Abelar has experience treating Myriad TMJ conditions, and is here to help!
TMJ DISORDER SYMPTOMS
So, how do you know if you have TMJ disorder? Well, it’s difficult to diagnose on your own, however, there are many warning signs of TMJ disorder that you can discuss with Dr. Abelar to help make an accurate diagnosis, such as: clicking and popping when you chew, jaw soreness, unexplained headaches, ringing in the ears, unexplained head, neck or back pain, or even frequent migraines, you could also have TMJ disorder.
HOW IS TMJ DISORDER TREATED
Because there are so many variations of TMJ disorder, there are variations of treatment options that can be prescribed by Dr. Abelar. One of the more common treatment options Dr. Abelar prescribes is the use of an orthotic device that will help reposition the temporomandibular joint so that it is no longer misaligned, lessening the severity of the TMJ disorder pain naturally, without the use of medication. With time, symptoms will improve as the device is utilized. The device is easy to use and easy to clean, and is custom made to fit your individual mouth, so its not awkward, bulky, or uncomfortable like those boil and bite mouth guards.
NEXT STEPS
If you feel as though you could be suffering from TMJ disorder (or if you already know you are!) contact the office today and schedule a consultation with Dr. Abelar to discuss your TMJ disorder treatment options. Dr. Abelar has been successfully treating TMJ disorder for years, and can help you find some relief from TMJ pain.
