When it comes to problems in your jaw, you may be experiencing issues with the temporomandibular joint. Such issues are also known as TMJ disorders. To ensure you get proper care and understand what’s going on, here are some common questions your local specialists get asked.
Why Should I Get Treatment?
You may have been living with TMJ issues for a long time and think you can just continue to let it ride out. If you ignore it, you may hope it’ll just go away on its own but it usually won’t. In some cases, symptoms may come and go, but there may be underlying problems that won’t heal. That’s why it’s always good to have a specialist examine the area to see if different issues require more therapy or surgical intervention. After all, if you’re able to get long-term relief from a cure, it can improve your quality of life, so you won’t have to always deal with unexpected jaw pain.
How Does Diagnosis Work?
When you visit your specialist for your disorder, they will begin by physically examining your jaw and observing the range you can move it. They’ll also feel the area as it opens and closes. Your doctor will use gentle touching to identify areas of pain or tenderness as you’re moving your jaw. The specialist also has other diagnostic tools, such as a 3D Cone Beam (CB) Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner and other up-to-date laboratory equipment. These tools are helpful to confirm that there are physical problems in the area and can assess just how severe it may be.
Can’t I Just Use Pain Medication?
Sure, you can use some over-the-counter pain relief for a temporary solution. However, it’ll never replace the expertise, ongoing solutions, and cures you can get in a specialist office. Your TMJ specialist understands the interventions that can help ease your pain over time or completely cure the underlying problem. If you have functional abnormalities in your jaw area, over-the-counter pills can’t help that. When dealing with extreme muscle strain, tension, and headaches due to a misaligned jaw, chronic muscle pain, and hinge joint attachment issues, this indicates the need for more specialized care.
If you’re dealing with TMJ dysfunction, you’re not alone. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it’s a disorder that’s more common in people between the ages of 20 and 40. You don’t have to live with this ongoing pain, as there are specialists who can help reduce its symptoms or get rid of the problem completely. To learn more about what a specialist can do for you, email or call TMJ Care today to start your pain relief journey.