TMJ Damage and Treatment
Damage to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arises from various causes, including injuries, teeth grinding, arthritis, and misaligned jaws. This joint is essential for proper jaw movement, and its damage can manifest pain, difficulty chewing, ongoing headaches, and ear discomfort. When left untreated, symptoms can escalate, resulting in complications that are more difficult and time-intensive to resolve.
In the world of TMD treatment, I tend to find that our patients end up in my office after much frustration and having seen multiple practitioners. Routinely, I will meet a new patient who has been the gamut of ENT, PCP, Neurologist, Spinal specialist, and everything in between and basically all over the map. My record was meeting a patient who had seen 50+ doctors before I met her, and by then it had been years and years of damage to the slipped discs in her joints. Needless to say, she was both upset and angry. After the exam, it took just a few minutes to figure out the problem and demonstrate how the symptoms correlated with the behavior of the discs.
It is unfortunate that so little is known about TMJ disorders and the problems those little slipped discs can cause. With that, I consult with our existing patients and referring doctors to spread the word. Just ask them to ‘spread the word’ and tell family and friends what should be looked at if there is popping and clicking, headaches, any dizziness, and even neck and back pain. If so, the jaw joint discs might be out of place. It is time to get the proper diagnosis. After a complete head and neck exam the next step will be to order a CBCT x-ray and an MRI of the TMJs to figure out what is going on.
The other side of this imaging can present another problem. The MRI itself, if not done by a really great technician and read by a really great radiologist, may not turn out right. So, here we go again with delays in treatment because the information is not good enough. I actually have had this happen more times than I can count. Frequently, a potential new patient has read my blogs and gets an MRI done at a different location than the one I have used for many years. It might show nothing at all or only minor displacement, but oftentimes it is not quite right and that patient delays treatment and thinks ‘oh well, the pain should just go away’. This is part of the diagnosis in treating TMJ disorders – getting the data correctly to avoid difficulties for the patient and delaying proper treatment. Delaying TMJ treatment comes with significant risks. Over time, untreated jaw joint issues can cause lasting damage to the discs and bones in the joint, leading to persistent pain, difficulty moving your jaw, and even the possibility of surgery. Severe cases may require total joint replacement which is a major procedure. This is why addressing TMJ symptoms early is so important.
What this whole experience has taught me is that I really need to spread the word more, and better, to our community. So many people suffer needlessly from TMJ slipped discs and other associated problems, yet they are not seeking treatment. On my end I will keep working at it- one patient at a time. Hopefully this blog will reach more people and help them to understand that it might be a TMJ problem and they might be wise to deal with it sooner than later.
Ignoring TMJ symptoms can lead to severe damage that may require surgery. But with early treatment, you can avoid long-term complications, ease your pain, and restore your quality of life. At Sleep & TMJ Therapy, we offer personalized solutions to treat TMJ dysfunction effectively. Don’t wait for the pain to worsen — schedule your consultation today.
Living with TMJ pain can feel overwhelming, but you’re not alone. TMJ damage is often caused by stress on the jaw joint due to grinding, misalignment, or injury. Left untreated, this condition can lead to long-term complications, including chronic pain, restricted jaw movement, and more.
If you’re experiencing symptoms such as jaw pain, difficulty chewing, or frequent headaches, it’s important to seek treatment sooner rather than later. Acting now can prevent more severe damage, saving you time, money, and discomfort in the future.