TMJ - In dental language TMJ
stands for Temporo-Mandibluar-Joint. This is the joint that your lower jaw, or
mandible, shares with the temporal bone of your skull. The human TMJ has evolved
and adapted over the millennia to allow us to speak and walk upright. With this
evolution (or creation, if you will) has come a propensity for certain
dysfunctions characteristic only of humans. It is thought that no other species
has TMJ problems.
TMJ pain is more prevalent at age 16 or older, and can strike when it is
absolutely the last thing you have time to deal with right now. Common symptoms
include headache, neck ache, and pain on opening, closing, or chewing. Not only
can TMJ be painful, but the noise of popping and clicking can be embarrassing.
It can be a frustrating and sometimes even frightening disorder. We understand
this and will do everything possible to help you get well again.
The most important first step in healing is to get a thorough health history. We
will discuss your symptoms with you at some length, and do a complete TMJ
clinical exam in order to arrive at a correct diagnosis.
Do you suffer from chronic pain in your jaw and face, experience "popping" sounds when you chew and talk or have symptoms such as headaches or lockjaw? If so, the problem may be TMJ. This condition affects more than 10 million people in the U.S. alone. And it's more than just painful - over time it can cause serious damage to your jaws and teeth.
TMJ Dysfunction is a popular term to describe a disorder of the jaw joints or the muscles that control the joints. Symptoms masquerade as a multitude of other problems such as sinus headaches, migraines, neck and shoulder stiffness and earaches. Dr. Talaber successfully treats TMJ and Migraines.
Dr. Talaber published an article in
the Olympian 10 years ago on how to ease
jaw-joint pain.
Click
here to read the article.