TMJ Symptoms

So many Americans suffer from issues and disorders related to their temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In fact, over 35 million Americans have symptoms, but many of these people attribute the symptoms to a busy, stressful lifestyle, so these people might not take the symptoms seriously. However, symptoms can lead to a TMJ disorder, so it’s important to have them checked out by a professional. Some of the common TMJ symptoms include:

– Pain, popping, and/or clicking in the jaw during chewing or other mouth movements
– Locking of the joint in the jaw that makes it difficult to open and close the mouth
– Pain, ringing, or congestion in the ears
– Pain behind the eyes
– Chronic pain in and around the face
– Headaches that tend to be frequent
– Sensitivity in the teeth, like sensitivity to heat or cold
– Difficulty swallowing, or sore throat despite no infection
– Lack of mobility or stiffness in the neck
– And other related symptoms

Some people might not experience any pain or discomfort, but they might still be having problems using their jaw for everyday things like talking and chewing. Even these problems could be attributed to a disorder with the TMJ.

The professionals who study TMJ symptoms and disorders believe they could be caused by pre-existing conditions, unhealthy habits, trauma, or perhaps some other underlying issues.

Some of the possible traumas and microtraumas behind TMJ symptoms and disorders could be an impact to the area, misalignment in the teeth or TMJ, whiplash, arthritis, or others. Many patients have bad habits that could contribute to an issue with the TMJ, such as teeth grinding, teeth clenching, excessive gum chewing, nail biting, poor posture, and more. Other patients might experience issues with their TMJ due to age, genetics, or stress that causes muscle tension. We can help with these issues here at our clinic.

Some TMJ stretches and other exercises can help to alleviate symptoms, but for serious symptoms and TMJ disorders, a patient should be tested and treated professionally. We can do this for you here at our clinic.

One of the most effective treatment methods we use here at Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders is professional oral appliance therapy. This method is proven to work and ease TMJ symptoms. It is nonsurgical, non-pharmacological, and very comfortable for patients too. So many of our patients experience immediate relief, and within just 1 week, these patients have a 50% improvement in their symptoms. And after only 3 months, patients have a 90% improvement!

Oral appliance therapy is approved by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and we’re very confident that it will work for you.

At our clinic, we can provide you with non-invasive oral appliance therapy to help you alleviate your symptoms and prevent them in the future. We can also provide a number of tests and treatments for TMJ disorders, including advanced imaging and digital facial modeling techniques, as well as neural stimulation techniques to help you heal. Reach out to us today.

To inquire about our clinic and services, or to book an appointment with us, please see our Appointments page for our locations and contact information. We have clinics in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Texas and Wisconsin. We look forward to your call!