If you find yourself experiencing stiffness, popping, clicking or pain when you open or close your mouth, you may have a TMJ disorder. For a thorough diagnosis and guidance on the best way to manage and alleviate the discomfort and dysfunction of this problem, consult the office of Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. As a skilled and experienced provider of care, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon can assess your condition and recommend the appropriate treatment.

On either side of your head, directly below your ears, is a complex system of muscles and joints that are responsible for opening and closing your jaw and moving your lower jaw from side to side. This joint, which is known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), plays an essential role in your ability to chew, swallow and speak. When any problem that causes pain or inhibits the motion of this joint arises, it is referred to as a TMJ disorder.

If you suffer from a TMJ disorder, you may experience frequent headaches, facial pain, and earaches. Symptoms of this condition can also manifest themselves in other ways. For all these reasons, it is essential to visit our oral and maxillofacial surgeon for a complete assessment and care. At our office, we’ll check for clicking, popping, tenderness, and difficulty moving your jaw, and perform a comprehensive examination to rule out any other possible reasons for your symptoms. A TMJ disorder can be attributed to a variety of underlying causes, from arthritis, injury, malocclusions or bite discrepancies, to teeth grinding. After conducting a comprehensive examination of your face and jaws, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon will determine the precise, underlying cause of your TMJ jaw-joint disorder and recommend the most appropriate course of care. Treatment for TMJ disorders can involve a variety of approaches to care including a custom fitted night guard, bite adjustments, orthodontics, prosthodontics, or surgery.

At the office of Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, we’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care. For more information on our office and the many services that we provide, give us a call today.

By Bellevue Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

September 24, 2020