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TMJ Questions
Serving patients in Omaha and Lincoln in our Omaha, Nebraska office
What causes Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD)?
Common causes of TMJ include:
- Misaligned bite
- Trauma to the head or neck
- Poor posture
- Oral habits, such as nail biting, pencil chewing, and wide yawning
- Certain health conditions, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, and mitral valve prolapse
- Health care procedures, including some dental procedures and intubation during surgery
- Improper dental work including poorly fitted crowns or dentures
TMJ can also occur with no identifiable cause.
Who can get TMJ/TMD?
Anyone can get TMD/TMJ. It seems to be most common in women of child-bearing age.
What are the symptoms?
TMJ causes symptoms throughout the body including:
- Headaches
- Facial pain
- Pain behind the eyes
- Ringing ears (tinnitus)
- Congested ears
- Tooth grinding
- Loose teeth
- Worn, chipped, or cracked teeth or fillings
- Pain and sensitivity in teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Receding gums
- Jaw pain
- Clicking or popping jaw
- Limited jaw movement or locking jaw
- Difficulty swallowing
- Shoulder, neck, or back pain
- Poor posture
- Numbness in arms and fingers
- Depression
Will I die from TMJ if I don't get treatment?
No, not from the condition itself, but the pain involved can lead to sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, depression, and in some cases, suicide.
Can't pain killers and muscle relaxers solve the problem?
No. You may experience some temporary relief, but the underlying problem will not be solved and the pain will return. TMJ will continue to cause damage to your teeth and jaw, creating even more painful problems
Can I really have TMJ even though I had braces in high school?
Yes, the orthodontic treatment you received may have only superficially corrected your bite, or more likely, your bite may have shifted over the years due to wisdom teeth, personal habits, trauma, or other factors or events.
When will the pain stop?
The first step in TMJ treatment is to relax the muscles and stop the spasms. You may experience relief from the pain immediately after your first treatment.
If you have more TMJ questions, contact our Omaha TMJ dentist, Dr. Beninato for a private neuromuscular dentistry consult if you are in Omaha or Lincoln, Nebraska.
