What is TMD?

TMD is a condition in which you have pain or discomfort in your jaw muscles and joints. This pain can cause clicking, popping, or grating sounds when you open and close your mouth. You may also have trouble moving your jaw up and down or side to side. TMD symptoms can be mild to severe, and they can make it hard to concentrate on your daily tasks or speak clearly. You can get relief from your TMD with physical therapy, medication, or behavioral health approaches.

The most common TMD diagnosis is arthralgia (pain in the bone or joint). Other diagnoses are myofascial pain (inflammation of the connective tissue covering the muscles that control jaw, neck, and shoulder movement), a displaced disk in the jaw, or degenerative jaw arthritis (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis). Source suwanee-cosmetic-dentist.com

A good first step to treating TMD is completing a comprehensive patient history. This includes a list of all medications and supplements you take, as well as questions about your eating habits and lifestyle, including any clenching or grinding of your teeth (bruxism).

What is Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)

There are various conservative treatments available for TMD that have been proven to be effective. These include self-care strategies, dental treatment, pharmacologic therapy, physical therapy modalities (including massage and mobilization techniques, electrotherapy such as TENS, dry needling, and manipulation), occlusal splints, acupuncture, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Surgical corrections should be considered only when other conservative options have been exhausted.

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