The Causes of TMJ Disorder

Your oral health is about more than just keeping your teeth and gums free of disease. It also includes maintaining the proper balance and function of your bite – something that your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) play a significant role in. TMJ disorder, which affects this balance and function, can occur in a variety of forms and have several different impacts on just how well your jaw can open, close, and move. At our Albuquerque, NM, dental office, we can help you find relief from TMJ disorder by customizing an appropriate treatment plan, based on an accurate diagnosis of the specific cause of your TMJ disorder.

What does TMJ disorder mean?

TMJ disorder describes a variety of conditions that affect the ability of one or both of your TMJs to function properly. This may include damage to one or both joints, inflammation in the joint tissue, misalignment in the joints, and more. The defining characteristics of TMJ disorder involve an inability for both of the joints to move smoothly and at the same time, which can result from one or several different underlying factors.

Some of the more common causes

Because TMJ disorder can describe different specific conditions, it can also be caused by several different factors. For example, many people develop TMJ disorder for one or more of these reasons:

• Tooth misalignment, which disturbs your bite’s balance
• Excessive stress, which can lead to chronic teeth-grinding
• Imbalanced bite pressure due to missing teeth
• An injury to one or both of your jaw joints
• And more

A few of the more prominent symptoms

While the causes and severity of different TMJ disorders can vary, patients often exhibit one or more common symptoms as a result of it. As your TMJs find it more difficult to move together, you may feel a popping or clicking sensation when you open and close your bite. You might also experience pain and discomfort when you open and/or close your jaw, chronic ringing in one or both ears, frequent headaches and migraines, and much more.

How to treat and relive TMJ disorder

Treating your TMJ disorder requires first diagnosing the unique nature and extent of your condition. Then, we can design a treatment plan to address its cause and help you find permanent relief from of its chronic symptoms. In many cases, the joints can be allowed to rest comfortably and heal with the help of a custom-designed TMJ appliance, which you can wear while you sleep at night. If your teeth are crooked, lost, or have been compromised in a way that affects your bite’s function, then your treatment may also include an appropriate solution to correct them.

Find out what’s causing your TMJ disorder

TMJ disorder can develop in a number of different ways, and can describe a variety of specific issues with your jaw joints and muscles. For more information about diagnosing and treating your TMJ disorder, or to schedule a consultation with us, call Snow Park Dental in Albuquerque, NM, today at (505) 596-4479.

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