{"id":53,"date":"2015-08-06T21:26:03","date_gmt":"2015-08-06T21:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.drlmetzger.com\/blog\/?p=53"},"modified":"2016-06-27T20:35:56","modified_gmt":"2016-06-27T20:35:56","slug":"tmj-farmington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.drlmetzger.com\/blog\/tmj-farmington\/","title":{"rendered":"Relief from TMJ Farmington Trusts \u2013 Dr. Metzger & Monet Aesthetic Dentistry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"woman<\/a>Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction also known as TMD occurs when the joint connecting your jaw (mandible) to the rest of your skull (temporal region) is strained or otherwise does not function correctly. TMJ disorder can be extremely painful, cause chronic headaches, earaches, hearing loss, inhibits speech and chewing, and can lead to numerous other medical concerns. Still, if you mention TMJ dysfunction or TMD, many people aren\u2019t quite sure what it is. Common misconceptions are that this joint discomfort is untreatable, and that it is the same thing as lock jaw (an infection from the tetanus bacteria). If you\u2019ve experienced jaw pain, swelling or difficulty opening and closing your mouth, you may wish to visit Dr. Leslie M. Metzger of Monet Aesthetic Dentistry to find out more about TMD and possible treatments. Our practice is dedicated to providing patients with outstanding preventive dental care, and that includes screenings for TMD at every six month checkup. Call<\/a> to schedule your appointment with our caring Farmington, MI<\/a> team today.
\n<\/p>\n

What Causes TMJ Dysfunction?<\/h3>\n

There are many causes to TMJ dysfunction<\/a>, but they can be classified as one or three types of pain:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Muscle or joint pain due to strain or injury \u2013 Typically caused by repeated irregular jaw motion caused by misaligned bite, bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching), stress tension, over extension.<\/li>\n
  2. Displaced disc or dislocated jaw interfering with joint function \u2013 Typically the result of an injury, but displaced discs or dislocated bones can occur when irregular motion continues over a period of time such as for patients with severe over or underbite.<\/li>\n
  3. Arthritis related joint inflammation \u2013 Arthritis is generally believed to be caused by the natural wearing down of bodily tissues over time.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Symptoms of TMD<\/h3>\n

    Many patients with TMD are not systematic until their disorder is at an advanced stage which is why we highly recommend regular TMD screenings during six month checkups. However, many patients who suffer from TMD experience the following symptoms:<\/p>\n