TMJD basically stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction. This may sound long and complicated, but it's quite a common problem. Scientific studies have shown that it affects about 6 to 12 percent adults. This dysfunction is most commonly found in women and young adults. You should visit a TMJ dentist as soon as you observe any of its symptoms. The dentist will be able to help you with certain types of pain that this condition brings on. 

In simple terms, TMJ is the temporomandibular joint which is basically the joint which connects your lower jaw to your skull. If you suspect you have TMJD and are experiencing headaches, dizziness and facial pain, you should consult a TMJ dentist.

Here’s a simple exercise for finding your temporomandibular joint:

Simply place your fingers in front of your ears and open your mouth wide. You will feel the round ends of your lower jaw slide along the joint of your temporal bone, which is basically the part of your skull which has your inner ear and temple.

If you suffer from a TMJ disorder, you will experience pain that can be excruciating and more often than not, a dentist specialized in TMJ disorders can prove to be your best friend!

What are some symptoms of TMJ disorders?

The following are some common symptoms of TMJ disorders:

• •    Facial muscular pain
• •    Any sort of grating or clicking noise while opening or closing the mouth
• •    Extreme difficulty while biting or chewing
• •    Constant headaches, pain around the ears, loss of hearing or ringing sounds in the ear
• •    Difficulty with opening your mouth widely

3 Types of TMJ Pain

If you experience one of these types of TMJ pain you should see a TMJ dentist:

1. 1)    Jaw Joint Pain - Since your temporomandibular joint connects your jawbone to your skull, any sort of TMJ disorder can result in extreme pain in your jaw joint. The muscles that control the movement of your jaw also start hurting. The area around the joint will be tender and this will probably result in difficulty with chewing, leading to nutritional deficiencies. If you have suffered any sort of jaw injury, it could be the cause of the TMJ disorder. Let the dentist specialized in TMJ disorders have a look and treat the pain. 
2. 2)    Tooth Pain - All our nerves are connected through the nervous system and the nerves around the mouth and face are particularly sensitive. TMJ deals with problems in the jaw joint. There is a powerful jaw muscle in the back of your cheek, called the ‘Masseter’. It has certain trigger points which, when triggered can cause excruciating pain in the top and bottom molars and general jaw area.
3. 3)    Face Pain - Since TMJ affects your jaw and facial muscles; you will experience a slow aching pain when talking or chewing food. This can make it very difficult for you to speak and/or enjoy your favourite foods. While facial muscular pain is said to be a major symptom of a TMJ disorder, it can also be a symptom of numerous other conditions which include facial neuralgia, headaches, ear infections and sinus infection.

Why is a TMJ dentist the best choice?

Most cases of TMJ disorder or temporomandibular joint disorder are extremely difficult to diagnose. The causes and symptoms are not exact and different cases have a different combination of symptoms. 

Usually, a TMJ dentist conducts a comprehensive assessment of your medical history, takes down a detailed description of all the symptoms you have noticed and examines certain problem areas like the neck, head, jaw and face. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the dentist will suggest ways to treat the problem and help reduce the pain and improve your quality of life. Don’t let TMJ disorder control your life. Make the right choice and visit a dentist specialized in treating pain associated with this disorder.