TMJ dysfunction is a living nightmare for an estimated 50 million Americans who suffer from this distress. And the fact that many dentists and physicians fail to diagnose this disorder means that people are suffering needlessly and spending money on office visits and drugs that give them no relief. But there is hope when TMJ is diagnosed correctly.
Symptoms include head, neck, and back aches. You may also have earaches, bouts of deafness, or ringing in your ears. You may hear clicking and popping when you chew. Some patients experience dizziness, chronic fatigue, and difficulty swallowing. And it usually starts with jaw misalignment.
When there's an imbalance in the jaws, the muscles in the neck and shoulders try to compensate, causing pains and headaches that can't be relieved until the jaws are realigned.
How do dentists realign the jaws? With a special dental splint and by repositioning the teeth using grinding procedures to produce a better fit between the upper and lower teeth. In a small number of instances, surgery may be required.
If you or someone you love suffer from the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction, call your dentist's office and set up a consultation. It may end years of suffering and pain.