Jaw pain affects eating, drinking, and speaking and, when it becomes severe, can quickly take a toll on your quality of life. Conditions like TMJ disorder are treatable with help from your dentist and various methods which have proven to be successful, you can overcome your TMJ disorder-related pain once and for all. Find out more about TMJ disorder pain and its treatments with Dr. Peyman Beigi and Dr. Nina Raeisian at Milford Dental Group in Milford, MA.

What is TMJ disorder? 
TMJ disorder affects the temporomandibular joints which lie on either side of your jaw in front of your ears. TMJ disorder causes these joints, made up of a ball-and-socket type joint, to become inflamed and irritated, causing potentially serious symptoms that can quickly affect your quality of life, eating, and speaking. TMJ disorder is a common condition and is treatable with help from your dentist.

Do I have TMJ disorder? 
TMJ may range from mild to severe with symptoms varying from patient to patient. However, there is a simple test you can perform on yourself at home to determine if you may have TMJ disorder. Place your fingers on the joint, located in front of the ears, and open your mouth. If you feel a clicking, grinding, or tenderness in the joint, you should speak with your dentist about TMJ disorder and its treatments. Some common symptoms of TMJ disorder include:

• pain in the face or jaw
• clicking or grinding when opening or closing the mouth or chewing
• aching pain in/around your ear
• difficulty chewing
• locking of the joint, especially in the mouth’s open position (lockjaw)

Treating TMJ disorder in Milford, MA
Treating TMJ disorder depends on the patient and the severity of their condition. In some cases, over-the-counter medications can treat the symptoms of TMJ disorder. In other situations, prescription medications like antidepressants or muscle relaxants may produce better results. TMJ disorder is thought to be stress-related in some cases, meaning that some patients find their symptoms decrease with proper stress management. Physical therapy, oral appliance therapy, and counseling may help treat TMJ disorder. Some severe cases of TMJ disorder require surgery to correct damaged or injured joints.

For more information on TMJ disorder-related pain, please contact Dr. Beigi and Dr. Raeisian at Milford Dental Group in Milford, MA. Call (508) 966-7923 to schedule your appointment with your dentist today!