Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

What Causes TMJ Pain?

Wednesday, September 02, 2015

TMJ pain is terrible - headaches, facial pain, jaw soreness, some even experience neck and back pain. Getting a proper diagnosis and treatment for TMJ problems can be problematic.

Many patients travel from doctor to doctor for years before discovering that their "migraine" isn't in there head, but rather in their jaw joint.

What causes TMJ pain? There are a lot of answers for this question. Some patients have experienced an accident or fall that caused temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Other patients grind their teeth and caused the joint to become damaged. Arthritis, old dental restorations and a poor bite are a few more reasons that the muscles and jaw joint starts causing discomfort.

Treatment for TMJ dysfunction can vary depending upon the cause of the problem. Old dental restorations that have become loose may need to be replaced. A poor bite may be corrected through dental restorations or orthodontics.

Most cases of TMJ dysfunction can be managed using a combination of a dental device that is designed to place the jaw in the optimal position for relaxation and appropriate home care such as avoiding certain foods or avoiding certain physical actions that might cause muscle spasms or pain.

Find out more about TMJ treatment in Boca Raton and Delray Beach by contacting neuromuscular dentist Dr. Kenneth A. Mogell at 561-394.9000.

Labels: headache, teeth grinding, TMJ