TMJ Specialist Near Lincolndale, NY

For any issues with the jaw joint or for a TMJ disorder (TMD), you should see a TMJ professional. This kind of professional can properly interpret symptoms like jaw pain, jaw clicking, facial pain, pain in the ears, ear ringing, ear congestion, and difficulty swallowing, which are all common symptoms of a TMD. Also, the professional may be able to help you understand what could have caused your issue, and of course, help you treat it too.

Despite the fact that TMJ disorder is quite common in the U.S., researchers and doctors don’t exactly know what causes it. However, what we do know is that the disorder is a dysfunction of the temporomandibular (jaw) joint, which can cause issues like jaw pain, a clicking jaw, and even difficulty sleeping. It may be that TMJ disorder is caused by pre-existing health conditions, unhealthy habits, or trauma. It’s also possible that certain habits cause or contribute to the disorder. In your case, the culprit might be:

– Jaw joint misalignment or dislocation
– An effect of whiplash
– The effects of jaw joint rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis
– The effects of a trauma like a blow to the jaw or cheek
– Teeth grinding or teeth clenching
– Gum chewing or nail biting
– Teeth misalignment or loss
– Poor posture (this can result in abnormal function of the jaw muscles)
– Stress (which can contribute to muscle tension and jaw clenching)

Genetics may be a factor for you, or age or gender. Age in women is a common factor, as ages 18 to 44 are at a higher risk of developing TMJ disorder.

It’s important to treat a jaw issue or TMJ disorder, as the pain and other symptoms may worsen. If the disorder is caused by an underlying issue or condition, that can worsen too. Leaving a TMJ disorder or issue untreated may lead to joint inflammation, joint damage, the gradual wearing down of your teeth, or the development of an airway sleep disorder like sleep apnea. A condition like sleep apnea can even lead to life-threatening conditions like heart disease.

It’s definitely important to treat jaw issues and TMJ disorders. With us at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders, treatment is easy on the patient.

Various stretches and exercises can help in many cases of TMJ disorder, and sometimes surgery is necessary, but much of the time the best treatment is oral appliance therapy. The therapy uses just a simple and comfortable oral insert for the treatment of TMJ disorder. A patient wears the insert regularly at night, and after about three months of treatment, many patients will be 90% symptom-free! Oral appliance therapy is approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and recommended by Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders.

Yes, we do! Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders has a location near you at 2435 Route 6, Ste 5 Brewster, NY 10509. You can reach us at (845) 377-2025. Call us today or book a consultation with us online. We’ll tell you anything else you’d like to know about our TMJ professionals and their treatments, and we’ll get you booked in for a consultation if you’d like to see us. We can see young patients too, so you’re welcome to bring in your child.

We look forward to hearing from and helping you soon!