TMJ disorders treatment
Do you experience stiffness, soreness, or sudden popping while moving your jaws? According to the National Institute of Health, almost 5-12% of Americans suffer from this sensation, two times more likely affecting young women. Wearing a TMJ splint can be one way to ease these symptoms.
While the pain is severe, it is not life-threatening but may cause immobility, thus affecting the quality of life. However, the sensation is not because of weak jaws but the temporomandibular joint that limits or hinders jaw movement.
And the common question of everyone, is TMJ curable? The good news is it is a treatable and curable condition that requires orthodontic care. But before we dive deeper into the treatment plans, let us first understand what a TMJ is, what TMD joint disorder is, its causes, and its symptoms.
Common Symptoms
When you have TMJ issues, your jaws may not be in proper alignment, which can result in uncomfortable symptoms that recur until you resolve the underlying problems, such as:
- Headaches
- Stiffness
- Jaw pain
- Ear pain
- Locked jaw
- Trouble chewing
Splint therapy is the cornerstone and an essential component of a complete TMJ treatment procedure.
Splints can treat temporomandibular issues, stabilize the bite, or protect the teeth from damage and wear. The treatment aims to restore jaw-muscle function and decrease related pain by establishing a balanced bite.