Tempromandibular Joint Disorders

The temporomandibular joints are located where your lower jaw meets your skull. On either side of your jaw, these ball-and-socket joints are responsible for allowing movement up, down, forward, back and side-to-side. They deal with tremendous forces when you chew and are used many times every day. As a result, TMJ disorders are not uncommon. Statistics vary, but we know that tens of millions of Americans suffer from pain caused by TMJ problems.

Symptoms of TMJ Disorders

• Jaw locking when open or closed
• Popping or clicking noises from the jaw
• Pain in either or both joints
• Headaches/backache/neck ache
• Facial pain
• Inability to open the mouth without pain

In addition to these symptoms, there are other considerations before diagnosing a patient with TMJ Syndrome. Your dentist, Dr. Brian Steele, will make a complete and comprehensive examination to rule out other sources of your symptoms before progressing with TMJ specific treatments.

Causes and Treatment of TMJ

TMJ is caused by various factors. Arthritis, stress, gum disease, tooth decay — all of these could be causing or mimicking TMJ disorders. Likewise, for every series of causes, there are multiple possible treatments. Dr. Brian Steele can guide your through the many treatment options — from simple to surgical.

Don’t live with the pain of TMJ. Solutions can be found with your Sacramento dentist, Dr. Brian Steele.