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Dr. Steven Lind, DMD
PH. 503-566-7000
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Questions About Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
What is TMD?
Temporomandibular disorder, or TMD, is a potentially painful disorder that affects over 40 million people today. Some people may experience no pain but just have a misaligned bite. The esteemed dentists at Art of Smile Making have years of experience in diagnosing and treating TMD and have achieved amazing, life-changing results for their patients.
What causes TMD?
While no one knows for sure what causes TMD, most dentists, including those at Art of Smile Making, believe it to be caused by various conditions such as:
- injury or trauma to the jaw area
- arthritis
- dental procedures
- infections
- auto-immune diseases
- misalignment or over-use of the jaw muscles
- teeth grinding
What are the symptoms of TMD?
While symptoms of TMD can vary, the most common symptoms include:
- Dull pain in the jaw joint or surrounding areas
- Problems using the jaw or inability to open the mouth comfortably
- Clicking, popping or grating sounds from the jaw joint
- Locking of the jaw upon opening the mouth
- A bite that feels uncomfortable or misaligned
- Headache or migraine
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
- Swelling of the jaw or on the side of the face
- Dizziness
- Ringing in ears or hearing loss
Is there help for TMD?
Yes. Because the underlying conditions that cause jaw pain or discomfort can be structural, biochemical or emotional, a dentist experienced in treating all of these conditions can effectively treat your TMD and provide almost immediate relief from ongoing pain and discomfort.
How is TMD usually treated?
The dentists at Art of Smile Making understand that the structural problem is almost always present and that can lead to over-activation of the jaw, head and neck muscles, which in turn leads to pain, tension and spasms.
That's why they will use state-of-the-art techniques to determine your optimal jaw to skull relationship and bring the jaw back into a relaxed position to relieve your pain.
What can TMD treatment do for me?
TMD treatment can be used to correct problems such as:
- worn teeth
- chipped teeth
- broken teeth
- teeth that are changing position
- broken fillings
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of TMD, you don't need to suffer any longer. Please contact The Art of Smile Making in Lake Oswego, Oregon today to schedule an initial consultation. Your jaw will thank you!
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