×

Patient Letter

We express gratitude and appreciation to you for entrusting the Smile Institute of Family Dentistry with your dental care. In this time, gratitude and appreciation are sentiments that may be less popular as people are feeling a great deal of despair, anxiety, frustration, and uncertainty. The pandemic has affected the healthcare industry in tremendous ways. For dental practices, staffing shortages have had a severe impact since many hygienists were forced to retire or some stepped away from the industry after evaluating the risk-reward factors. As a result of the work force shortage, our practice has had to reserve fewer appointments. We ask for your patience. If you have an appointment reserved to see Dr. Mims, try your best to keep that appointment because her next available reservation may not be for several months. We encourage all our patients to optimize their health by consistent home care habits to include twice daily brushing and flossing. Although uncertainty is occurring all around us, one thing will not change, Dr. Mims and her team love seeing our patients and we are committed to provide 5-star service. Thank you for choosing us. We look forward to seeing you at your next dental visit!

Close

Would you like to switch to the accessible version of this site?

Go to accessible site Close modal window

Don't need the accessible version of this site?

Hide the accessibility button Close modal window
Accessibility View Close toolbar
Logo

(414) 760-2000

Online Payments
Menu
  • Home
  • Our Team
  • Our Mission
  • Our Office
  • Our Services
    • Our Amenities
  • Our Products
  • Patient Info
    • New Patients
    • For Your Safety
  • Testimonials
  • Contact Us
    • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education
    • Educational Videos
    • Cosmetic & General Dentistry
    • Emergency Care
    • Endodontics
    • Implant Dentistry
    • Oral Health
    • Oral Hygiene
    • Oral Surgery
    • Orthodontics
    • Pediatric Dentistry
    • Periodontal Therapy
    • Technology
  • COVID-19
  • Welcome! >
  • Articles >
  • Cosmetic & General Dentistry >
  • TMD

TMD

  • Created in Cosmetic & General Dentistry

TMJ Pain.If you experience ongoing pain in the area near your ear, your jaw or the muscles on the side of your face, possibly accompanied by a clicking or popping sound or restricted jaw movement, you may be suffering from TMD — an abbreviation for Temporomandibular disorders. Sometimes people incorrectly use the term TMJ to refer to these problems, when in fact TMJ is the abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint — or jaw joint — itself. So while you definitely have a TMJ (two of them in fact), you may or may not have TMD.

TMD, then, describes a group of conditions characterized by pain and dysfunction of the TMJ and/or the muscles surrounding it. It's not always so easy to figure out exactly what's causing these symptoms, but the good news is that most TMD cases resolve themselves with the help of conservative remedies that you can try at home. In fact, it's important to exhaust all such reversible remedies before moving on to anything irreversible, such as bridgework or surgery.

The two TMJs that connect your lower jaw, the mandible, to the temporal bone of the skull on either side, are actually very complex joints that allow movement in three dimensions. The lower jaw and temporal bone fit together as a ball and socket, with a cushioning disk in between. Large pairs of muscles in the cheeks and temples move the lower jaw. Any of these parts — the disk, the muscles or the joint itself — can become the source of a TMD problem. If you are in pain, or are having difficulty opening or closing your jaw, a thorough examination can help pinpoint the problem area; then an appropriate remedy can be recommended.

Causes of TMD

TMJ Joint.As with any other joint, the TMJ can be subject to orthopedic problems including inflammation, sore muscles, strained tendons and ligaments, and disk problems. TMD is also influenced by genes, gender (women appear to be more prone to it), and age. Physical and psychological stress can also be a factor. In some cases, jaw pain may be related to a more widespread, pain-inducing medical condition such as fibromyalgia (“fibro” – connective tissues; “myo” – muscle; “algia” – pain).

Signs and Symptoms of TMD

Clicking Sounds — Some people with TMD hear a clicking, popping or grating sound coming from the TMJ when opening or closing the mouth. This is usually caused by a shifting of the disk inside the joint. Someone standing next to you might even be able to hear it. Clicking by itself is actually not a significant symptom because one third of all people have jaw joints that click, studies show. However, if the clicking is accompanied by pain or limited jaw function — the jaw getting “stuck” in an open or closed position, for example — this would indicate TMD.

Kids mouth anatomy.

Muscle Pain — This can be felt in the cheeks (masseter muscles) and temples (temporalis muscles), where the two big pairs of jaw-closing muscles are located. If you feel soreness and stiffness upon waking up in the morning, it's often related to habits such as clenching and/or grinding the teeth at night. If you have this type of nocturnal habit, a custom-made nightguard should be very helpful in decreasing the force applied to your teeth, which will in turn allow your muscles to relax and relieve pressure on your jaw joints. Other self-care remedies are discussed below (please see Relieving the Pain).

Joint Pain — Pain that's actually coming from one or both jaw joints technically would be described as arthritis (“arth” – joint; “itis” – inflammation) of the TMJ. Radiographs (x-ray pictures) show that some people have arthritic-looking TMJs but no symptoms of pain or dysfunction; others have significant symptoms of pain and dysfunction but their joints look normal on radiographs. There is no cure for arthritis anywhere in the body, but medication can sometimes help relieve arthritic symptoms.

Relieving the Pain

Once you have been examined, a strategy for treating your condition and managing your pain can be developed. Sometimes a temporary change to a softer diet can reduce stress on the muscles and joints. Ice and/or moist heat can help relieve soreness and inflammation. Muscles in spasm can also be helped with gentle stretching exercises. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants can also provide relief.

Other Treatment Options

Severe TMD cases may require more complex forms of treatment, which might include orthodontics, dental restorations like bridgework, or minor procedures inside the joint such as cortisone injections or lavage (flushing) of the joint. It's rare for major surgery ever to be necessary in a case of TMD. Again, it's important to try the wide range of conservative, reversible treatments available, and give them enough time to work as they almost always prove effective. The first step is an examination at the dental office. To learn more about available treatment options, view this Chart on TMD Therapy

Related Articles

TMD - Dear Doctor Magazine

TMD – The Great Impostor This “chameleon” of dental disorders manifests in a variety of ways, including joint pain, sinusitus, ear pain, tooth and headaches. Dear Doctor magazine examines the causes of TMD, its signs and symptoms and what can be done to treat this common disorder... Read Article

Relief from TMD - Dear Doctor Magazine

Seeking Relief From TMD TMD, or Temporomandibular Disorders, is an umbrella term for various painful conditions that affect the jaw joints. There are different treatment approaches to TMD problems, but not all are based on science. It's important to be up on the latest information and to be an educated consumer. In this comprehensive article, Dear Doctor magazine provides state-of-the-art information and guidance on what you should know, whom you should see, and what you should ask... Read Article

  • Educational Videos
  • Cosmetic & General Dentistry
  • Emergency Care
  • Endodontics
  • Implant Dentistry
  • Oral Health
  • Oral Hygiene
  • Oral Surgery
  • Orthodontics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Periodontal Therapy
  • Technology

Contact Us

Featured Services

Click to find out more

  • General & Cosmetic Dentistry

    Dentistry encompasses array of services and procedures with a...
    Learn More
  • Dental Sleep Medicine

    You know it instinctively: A good night's sleep is essential for...
    Learn More
  • Dental Implants

    A dental implant most often takes the form of a small, screw-shaped...
    Learn More
  • Sedation

    Oral sedation (given by mouth) is a popular option for many people...
    Learn More
wda
Go to link
ada
Go to link
cds
Go to link
gmda
Go to link
phil
Go to link
Waterpik
Go to link
spear
Go to link

Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Primary Location

Monday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-4:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Connect With Us

 

Our Location

Find us on the map

  • Copyright © 2022 MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite.
  • Admin Log In
  • Site Map