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Artisan Dentistry's Blog

Crooked Teeth and Your TMJ: Is There a Link?

Jul 7th, 2016

Some people talk about having “TMJ” as a kind of jaw disease. Let’s take a look at what TMJ actually is and how your tooth alignment can affect it.

Understanding Your TMJ

TMJ stands for “temporomandibular joint” and is something everyone should have. Your jaw has two of these joints located at bilateral positions just in front of your ears. The joints are considered a combination of a hinge and gliding joint, giving it a wide and smooth range of motion. Within the joint is a complex network of tissues, fluid, and ligaments that support and move the jaw.

How does tooth alignment affect your jaw? Depending upon just how misaligned your teeth are, one side of your mouth may experience more biting force than the other side. An uneven bite puts strain on your jaw muscles and the joints in your jaw. Or, your jaw may be shifting too far forward when you bite.

Signs of TMJ Trouble

If your TMJ starts to bother you, that could be a sign of TMD: temporomandibular disorder. TMD can have a variety of causes, most of which are connected to stress or strain on the jaw. An uneven bite could be just such a source of stress.

Some signs that you should have your TMJ examined are:

  • Ear or neck pain
  • Headaches
  • Aching in the jaw
  • Unusual clicking or popping noises in the jaw

What Are Your Options?

At Paul Mathew D.D.S, Artisan Dentistry, we are pleased to offer you a comprehensive range of choices for addressing your TMJ concerns. Possible TMJ/TMD treatments for correcting your bite and relieving jaw pain include:

  • Orthodontic treatment for adults
  • Invisalign
  • Conservative, palliative therapies
  • Jaw exercises and stretches
  • Splints
  • Surgery (as part of an aggressive approach)

Ready to say goodbye to your jaw discomfort? Schedule a visit to have your bite evaluated and your TMJ assessed.

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Anyone can train to be a technician, but few have the talent to become an artist. That’s why Dr. Mathew is able to guarantee his cosmetic dentistry work for a full 5 years. If anything goes wrong with the work, Dr. Mathew will fix it free of charge, as long as you continue with your regular 6 month preventative care cleaning and check up for the duration of the warranty.

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Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

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Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

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The information presented here is not intended or implied to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should be used for informational purposes only.