At Radiant Dental Health in Ft. Collins, CO TMJ services are available for residents of Ft. Collins and nearby communities. If you or a loved one believe you may have TMJ, contact us for a consultation and treatment options.

What is TMJ?

TMJ is an acronym that stands for temporomandibular joint. The temporomandibular joint connects the lower jaw to the temporal skull bone. This joint helps supports the temple and protects the ear, as well as plays a part in hearing. If you feel along the bottom and side edges of your jaw, that is the mandible bone. The temporal bones are just in front of each ear, by the ear canal. If you place your fingers on top of the temporal bone and open your mouth, you can actually feel the temporomandibular joint in action.

What is TMJ Disorder?

TMJ is widely used to describe a malfunction of the temporomandibular joint, although the complete proper term would be TMJ Disorder. With TMJ Disorder, the temporomandibular joint moves out of alignment when the jaw is moved. Ordinarily, this movement should be painless. This is because there is a cushion of disk cartilage that resides at the top of joint where it meets the temple bone. There are also nerves in this region that create the sensation of discomfort or pain when the joint does not operate as it should.

In cases of TMJ Disorder, the cartilage may be thin or weakened, or out of place. This results in bone rubbing on bone when a person moves their jaw. Although levels of discomfort vary, the pain associated with TMJ Disorder can be excruciating, as you can imagine. At Radiant Dental Health in Ft. Collins, CO TMJ services include pain management so that the patient gets relief from the condition.

Dangers of TMJ Disorder

Even if a person is somehow able to withstand the discomfort or pain associate with TMJ Disorder, there are dangers to letting the condition persist without treatment. For example, the cartilage within the joint could become further damaged until it’s gone altogether. Malnutrition can even occur, since TMJ Disorder causes discomfort when eating and drinking. The actual bone could be further damaged, limiting treatment options and making treatment more complex.

If you or your loved on are experiencing jaw pain, and you suspect TMJ Disorder, contact your Ft. Collins dentist as soon as possible. The earlier you seek treatment for TMJ Disorder, the more treatment options will be available and the more damage you can prevent. There are effective treatments for TMJ Disorder that your dentist can offer to both reduce the pain and to alleviate the number of recurrences. Contact us today to learn more.