Pain and tenderness when chewing. Your jaw is locking open or closed. Frequent morning headaches or migraines. Excessive tooth wear leads to discomfort and difficulties chewing.
Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? More than one of them might ring a bell. If so, you may be suffering from temporomandibular disorder or TMD. Here's what you should know.
What Is TMD?
It's easy to get confused between the terms TMJ and TMD. To clarify, TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, the mechanism that's not functioning correctly when you have TMD. Some common signs and symptoms of TMD include:
- Tooth clenching and grinding (bruxism) — typically at night
- Pain or tenderness when biting or chewing
- Popping or clicking of the jaw joint
- Ringing of the ears — tinnitus
- Frequent headaches
- The jaw locking open or closed
- Neck and shoulder pain
Some people experience multiple symptoms that can be debilitating and negatively impact their quality of life.
How Do We Treat TMD?
Dr. Roberto Monteagudo is a maxillofacial expert who aims to find the root cause of your problem. Finding the root cause of TMD will help him determine the course of treatment for your needs.
Some of the causes of TMD might be:
- Bite misalignment
- Bruxism
- Stress or anxiety
- Trauma or injury
Depending on the root cause of your TMD, some of the treatments Dr. Monteagudo may recommend are:
- Orthodontic treatment for bite misalignment
- Tooth repair or full mouth reconstruction
- A nightguard to prevent bruxism while you sleep
- Neuromuscular therapy
Using neuromuscular dentistry technology, Dr. Monteagudo can pinpoint the cause of your joint dysfunction and create a personalized treatment plan to relieve your discomfort and get you back on the path to wellness.
Don't live with pain any longer! Contact Wisconsin Smiles at (414) 383-5833 to book an evaluation with Dr. Monteagudo.