When Should I See A Dentist in Glendale, CA For TMJ?
First and foremost, you might be wondering what a TMJ is and why you would need to see a dentist for it. TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint; it affects the muscles that are responsible for chewing. These joints connect the jawbone and the skull, and when you start to feel some discomfort around it, TMJ becomes a disorder, which may require you a trip to your dentist at the soonest time possible. Luckily though, not all TMJ cases will require an immediate dental visit as they can be managed through some self-care practices and non-surgical treatments, but they can be quite tricky to diagnose as some symptoms may manifest in ways that don’t seem to be affecting your jaw itself. Most people don’t even know they have such a condition! As devoted dental practitioners, it is part of our duty to provide people with relevant information that will improve their dental health. In line with that, we have listed down some of the most common signs and symptoms of a TMJ disorder to be on the lookout for, which you may read further below.
Symptom # 1: Persistent pain around your jaw, ears, and cheeks
If you feel some type of consistent discomfort or pain in your jaws, ears, cheeks, and even your neck, whether it is mild or excruciating, then this increases your probability of having a TMJ disorder. The jaw, as we know, is one of the major parts of the mouth that is used for chewing. If you’ve been experiencing difficulty in doing so for quite some time, it’s best to let your dentist examine you to prevent your condition from becoming anything severe.
Symptom # 2: Clicking or popping sound coming from the joint
If you seem to notice that there seems to be something that clicks or pops whenever you move your jaw, that could be the inflamed joint in the area. You can test for this on your own by gently pressing a finger on the joint in front of your ear. Try to feel for its movement as you open your mouth wide. If there’s a tender feel to it and you feel a click on the joint, then it can signal that you may be experiencing TMJ disorder. If the pain and discomfort persist, we urge you to visit your dentist at the soonest time possible.