This two-part article series provides an in-depth discussion of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and its various causes, symptoms and treatment options.
New York City is a throbbing, fast-paced American metropolis, as well as the nation’s economic, cultural and financial capital. Here, if you’re not moving at a hundred miles per hour, you’re not keeping up with competition. The result is that many New York residents suffer, in some way or form, from a high degree of stress and the physical ramifications of this are many. One of the most common physical symptoms of stressful living is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), of which dentists in New York report an increasing incidence.
This painful condition centers on the joint between the jaw and the temple region of the head and can cause a great spectrum of troubles, from a stiff jaw that audibly clicks when opening and closing the mouth to crippling chronic headaches. To get a better understanding of TMD, its symptoms, what causes it and what can be done to prevent it, we’ve spoken to an experienced New York dentist and in this two-part article series, we shall be presenting what she had to say.
What is TMD and What Causes It?
“The smooth functioning of our jaws is absolutely vital,” begins the dentist. “Opening and closing your jaw is something you take for granted until the very day you develop a condition like TMD, which impairs this ability by making the joint stiff and/or very painful. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder – TMD for short – essentially refers to a malfunction or the impaired function of the joint that controls the articulation of the lower jaw.”
What causes TMD?
What has happened to you when you are diagnosed with TMD is that the muscles and tendons surrounding the temporomandibular joint or the joint itself has become irritated and inflamed. In some cases, the “ball point” of the mandible can actually slip out of the socket very slightly and in doing so, it rubs against the soft pad that cushions the joint. In certain extreme cases of TMD, the jaw can actually become locked and refuse to open or close!
“What causes any of these conditions to happen is not precisely known,” says the dentist. “At our New York practice, we see many patients with TMD and there doesn’t seem to be a clear common cause with the exception of one: stress. Jaw clenching and teeth grinding – something people often do sub-consciously or while they’re asleep during the night – tends to cause the kind of joint inflammation and pain we typically see with TMD patients. And of course these two bad habits are linked with stress.”
Am I a Tooth-Grinder / Jaw Clencher?
Determining whether you do grind your teeth or clench your jaw is a good start to diagnosing TMD, however it’s not always possible to know the answer to this question. Oftentimes, New Yorkers grind their teeth at night or they clench their jaws subconsciously. You might be doing terrible damage to your teeth and be completely unaware of it! A good dentist in New York will be able to tell from the general condition of and wear patterns on your teeth whether you do clench your jaw and grind your teeth, so if you do experience the symptoms of TMD, you should book yourself a dental appointment.
“Ask your bedfellow if they’ve heard you grinding in your sleep… it’s a fairly loud and disruptive sound like nails on a chalkboard,” advises the NYC dentist. “If they say they’ve heard you, you will need to do something about it or risk permanent damage to your teeth.”
Stay Tuned for Part 2
To find out more about temporomandibular joint disorder and what you can do to minimize or even eliminate the symptoms of this painful condition, stay tuned for the second half of this two-part article series.