What is TMJ

tmj Woodbury, MN

TMJ refers to temporomandibular joint disorder. This condition helps you to operate your mouth. The joint is important for chewing, talking, yawning and more. If you begin to experience jaw pain and frequent headaches, a disorder may have developed within the joint. In order to treat TMJ properly, you need to understand what causes it in the first place.

Stress

Stress can cause people to engage or fall back on damaging habits. One of those damaging habits is grinding teeth. Many people are even grinding or clenching their teeth when they sleep so they are very unaware that they are doing something harmful. Using your chewing muscles continuously wears them down over time and you might find it painful to open or close your jaw.

Arthritis

There are two forms of arthritis which can occur with the jaw. These include osteoarthritis and  rheumatoid arthritis. Inflammation of the joint is the most common characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. If left untreated it could eventually lead to cartilage deterioration. The other form of arthritis, Osteoarthritis, is caused through aging. However, the severity of it can be influenced by traumatic events that have taken place in one’s life.

Trauma

Trauma can also be a factor. This can include incidents like taking a punch aimed at the face or being in a car accident. The disorder can really come from numerous incidents that take place in a person’s life. These incidents can cause damage to the cartilage disk within your jaw, or your temporomandibular joint could also completely dislocate. Having our dental expert, Dr. Kamel examine your jaw after getting injured is the best course of action.

Additional Causes

Other health factors that may contribute to the development of TMG is cancer, various infections, and certain birth deformities in the bone.

Contact Us

If you are experiencing any events related to TMJ, contact our offices in Woodbury, Minnesota to schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Kamel.

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