TMJ/TMD
The Temporomandibular Joint, more commonly referred to as the jaw joint, assists in the basic opening and closing movements of the jaw. Unfortunately, this joint is a common area for recurring jaw pain in our Battle Ground patients. Although conventional wisdom suggests that popping sounds in the jaw indicates a TMJ dysfunction, this is not always true. Many times, your jaw is functioning properly even if a popping sound is present when chewing or talking.
We offer a TMJ jaw pain exam in Battle Ground that evaluates the joint tissue in the hinge of the jaw. Possible problems include swelling, deterioration of the joint tissue or damaged joint tissue (which cushions the jaw bones during the opening and closing movement of the mouth). Common pain relievers and cold compresses can provide temporary relief for most cases of TMJ.
For more serious cases of TMJ, our Dentists in Battle Ground we will recommend alternate treatments. Often we will suggest using either an over-the-counter or custom night guard to relieve teeth grinding and jaw pain in Battle Ground patients. In some cases, we will recommend removing the bite imbalances that are often the source of joint pain by equilibration, the specific shaping of teeth that allows them to fit together evenly and without excessive force on individual tooth sites.
