TMJ Disorder

What is Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder?

The Temporomandibular joints act as hinges connecting your lower jaw to the skull. Simply put, they are the joints that rotate and slide in front of each ear and are composed of the temporal bone (the base and side of the skull) and the mandible (the lower jaw). When the joints and the mandible are aligned correctly, smooth muscle movements, such as swallowing, yawning, talking, and chewing, can take place effortlessly.

Temporomandibular Joints disorder is a medical condition that affects the movement of your jaws. It causes tenderness and pain in your jaw joints and neighboring ligaments and muscles. The exact cause of TMJ disorder is normally hard to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of factors, like jaw injury, arthritis or genetics.

How does TMJ Dysfunction impact your life?

TMJ disorder can have a significant effect on your everyday life. If you are experiencing some pain in your jaw, it can limit your ability to carry out normal activities such as sleeping, speaking, and eating. Jaw pain can be sharp, and constant and can worsen when talking, yawning, and chewing.

In some instances, TMJ disorder can make it difficult to open your mouth fully, which can make speaking or eating hard. Furthermore, TMJ can lead to tension earaches and headaches, which can be frustrating. Most of us take simple muscle actions like chewing for granted. But chewing and eating can be hard if you are struggling with TMJ disorder. Turning at night and tossing due to TMJ disorder can cause you to lose good rest at night.

If left untreated TMJ can become worse over time, resulting in the development of other conditions and severe pain. Seeking early treatment for TMJ can stop further damage and boost the quality of life.

Symptoms and Causes of TMJ

Signs and symptoms of TMJ may include:

• Tenderness or pain in your jaw
• Pain in either one or both of the Temporomandibular joints
• Difficulty chewing or experiencing pain while chewing
• Locking of joints, making it hard to close or open your mouth.
• Dizziness
• Tingling in your fingers or numbness
• Migraine or headaches
• Toothaches
• Earaches
• Aching facial pain

There are many potential causes of TMJ disorders. Some of the  common TMJ dysfunction causes include autoimmune conditions, infections, grinding, dental surgery, arthritis or physical injury. Depending on the cause and severity of your disorder, TMJ treatment options may also vary.

Conventional treatments for TMJ disorder include utilizing a night-guard to minimize the adverse effects of grinding and applying braces to straighten the teeth or align the jaws. Other treatment options for TMJ disorder include physical therapy, medication, surgery and shockwave therapy.

Shockwave Therapy for TMJ (Effective Treatment for TMJ)

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive procedure that operates by focusing on energy impulses to particular damaged tissues. This stimulates the repair and regeneration of tissues.

To treat TMJ disorder, the sound waves (shockwaves) go to the temporomandibular joints which increase the flow of blood and cause inflammation to heal and minimize pain.

During shockwave therapy for TMJ disorder, a handheld device offers acoustic waves to the affected areas of your joints. The waves are produced externally and then passed through the skin using an oil or gel to enhance conduction.

Shockwave therapy offers numerous benefits including:

• Pain reduction: Shockwave therapy has been found effective in reducing throbbing pain associated with TMJ.
• Tissue healing and regeneration: This procedure promotes the formation of new blood vessels while repairing the existing ones.
• Non-invasive: In some cases, shockwave therapy for TMJ disorder may assist patients in avoiding surgical intervention.

Get Better Results for TMJ Disorders with Shockwave Therapy Today

Are you searching for the best shockwave therapy for TMJ services provider in Knoxville? WaveTech Therapy Knoxville can help.

We offer the best shockwave therapy technology for TMJ disorders and other chronic conditions on the market. Our devices are ergonomically designed and effective in treating patients without worrying about straining their bodies. If you are looking to get rid of TMJ and the pain associated with it, Contact us to schedule a free consultation today.

Military Discount