Authority On TMJ

If you are one of the many people suffering from problems like pain in the jaws and teeth, headache, severe pain in the shoulder or neck, sciatica, pain in upper or mid-back and foot pain, there is a high probability that you have become victim to a disease called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Most people would normally panic when they hear they have fallen prey to TMJ, but in my opinion it is something that cannot be controlled or cured. Instead of panicking, the first thing that the patient should do is to visit a TMJ specialist.

It is better to know a few things about the disorder, just to increase one's general knowledge of the disorder and to better understand the treatment that the TMJ specialist will provide. First of all, how does the problem occur in the first place? A lot of research on the topic has proven that people who engage in certain habits like biting fingernails, chewing gum, grind or clench their teeth have a greater probability of getting this disease. However, people who suffer from any misalignment of teeth due to natural or artificial reasons, such as accidents, are also prone to this disorder.

Unfortunately, the problem has started affecting the people of America at a massive level, a recent survey declared that almost 15% of total Americans were suffering from this disorder and the disorder was common amongst men and women equally. The question that must be popping in your mind would be, how do I identify the symptoms of TMJ? Well, the answer to this question is simple. First of all, the most common symptom of this disorder is when people start experiencing a pain while chewing or eating. Secondly, the jaw muscle starts to get stiff as a result the jaw gets locked furthermore. Some patients have even reported pain in the ear or the area near it. If you start experiencing any of these problems.

You may want to see your dentist. The dentist is one of the best professional help that you can get. He/she can give you a comprehensive exam. If you see the same dentist for the past few years, he/she can also provide your history of jaw symptoms. There are also some dentists who specialize in TMJ, and can specifically help you in finding out the reason behind the symptoms.

Once you've confirmed with your dentist that you indeed have TMJ, you can get a referral to a board-certified Maxillofacial surgeon. Actually, there is no one specific specialist who can treat TMJ. But there are surgeons, dentists, and ear, nose and throat doctors that have training in treating TMJ. Your primary care provider can actually refer you to a Maxillofacial surgeon, a dentist who specializes in treating the mouth and the jaw. You can also consult a surgeon. In some cases of TMJ disorders, a surgery may be necessary to correct the jaw imbalance.

Find other TMJ patients. You can actually ask other patients to refer you to a TMJ specialist. Of course, this is not an alternative for a professional medical advice. However, it may be helpful because other TMJ patients can share with you their experience. Plus, they can also suggest the same specialist that treated him/her.

By getting support and finding out the best course of treatment, you will feel more confident and comfortable in battling TMJ disorder.