As many as 36 million adults in the U.S. suffer from some form of chronic jaw pain. What’s more, many of these may also experience other painful conditions like arthritis or chronic fatigue in other parts of their body.
Chronic jaw pain is actually a group of difficult to define disorders collectively referred to as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD or also TMD). TMD not only refers to pain symptoms of the temporomandibular (jaw) joints but also of the jaw muscles and surrounding connective tissue. Most physicians and dentists agree TMD arises from a complex range of conditions involving inheritable factors, gender (many sufferers are women of childbearing age), environment and behavior.
A recent survey of approximately 1,500 TMD patients found that nearly two-thirds of them also suffered from three or more related health problems like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, headaches, depression and problems sleeping. The understanding of TMD’s connection with these other conditions is in its early stages of research, but there’s avid interest among healthcare providers to learn more and possibly devise new treatments for TMD in coordination with these other related conditions.
In the meantime, TMD patients continue to respond best with the traditional approach to treatment, including physical therapy, thermal (hot or cold) compresses to the area of pain, medication and modifying the diet with more easier to chew foods. In extreme cases, jaw surgery may be recommended; however, success with this approach has been mixed, so it’s advisable to get a second opinion before choosing to undergo a surgical procedure.
Hopefully, further study about TMD and its connection with other conditions may yield newer treatments to ease the pain and discomfort of all these conditions, including TMD. You can stay up to date on these and other developments for coping with the discomfort of TMD at www.tmj.org and through your healthcare provider team.
If you would like more information on TMD, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Chronic Jaw Pain and Associated Conditions.”
Comments:
Our Office
Carlos A. Polo, D.D.S., M.S. | Jose G. Cruz, D.D.S.
863.877.1891
Hablamos Español
6390 Cypress Gardens Blvd.
Winter Haven, FL 33884
Our Blog
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2012
- 2011
Tags
- celebrity smiles (2)
- dental injury (3)
- mouthguards (2)
- orthodontics (6)
- braces (6)
- retainer (2)
- dentures (4)
- cosmetic dentistry (17)
- smile makeover (7)
- veneers (3)
- oral health (43)
- denture (1)
- teeth whitening (6)
- tooth colored fillings (2)
- dental fillings (2)
- wedding day smiles (1)
- retainers (2)
- tooth decay (14)
- chewing gum (1)
- sports dentistry (1)
- bonding (3)
- dental injuries (3)
- dental emergencies (2)
- pediatric dentistry (10)
- chipped tooth (2)
- heart disease (1)
- periodontal disease (3)
- gum disease (9)
- oral hygiene (21)
- invisalign (3)
- clear orthodontic aligners (3)
- crowns (2)
- sealants (2)
- bad breath (1)
- common symptoms (1)
- fluoride (2)
- oral sedation (4)
- sedation dentistry (4)
- dental anxiety (2)
- thumb sucking (1)
- dental implant (4)
- missing tooth (2)
- replacing teeth (2)
- dental implants (24)
- dental emergency (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- oral cancer (2)
- cracked tooth syndrome (1)
- clear aligners (2)
- tmj (3)
- tmd (3)
- toothache (5)
- tooth pain (3)
- tooth extraction (1)
- crown (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- bridgework (1)
- nutrition (5)
- wedding day smile (1)
- tooth bleaching (1)
- dry mouth (1)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- removable partial dentures (1)
- dental cleanings (1)
- root canal (1)
- mouthguard (2)
- smoking (1)
- snoring (12)
- sleep apnea (12)
- x-rays (3)
- bacteria (1)
- cancer (1)
- sugar (1)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- CAT scans (1)
- orthodontic treatment (1)
- adult orthodontics (1)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (1)
- cracked mouth (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- dentistry (1)
- teeth grinding (4)
- stress (1)
- flossing (2)
- jaw pain (4)
- wisdom teeth (1)
- fillings (1)
- tmj disorders (3)
- dental care (3)
- cracked tooth (1)
- diabetes (3)
- mouthrinse (1)
- burning mouth syndrome (2)
- tooth wear (1)
- laser dentistry (1)
- shingles (2)
- baby teeth (1)
- canker sore (1)
- dental erosion (1)
- eating disorders (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- toothpaste (2)
- dental visit (1)
- blood pressure (2)
- partial denture (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- removable partial denture (1)
- salvia (1)
- GERD (1)
- seniors (1)
- local anesthesia (1)
- bruxism (1)
- fluroide (1)
- air abrasion (2)
- pregnancy (1)
- floss (1)
Categories:
Our Services
Hablamos Español
