Have you ever heard of your temporomandibular joints? No? That’s okay, even though they’re located on either side of the face just in front of the ears, most people haven’t heard of them either. However, if you experience persistent headaches or a host of other painful symptoms, then you may want to spend some time learning about those joints. Dr. Bobby J. Carmen in Norman, OK, treats patients with TMJ disorder, or TMD, so they can get back to living a productive and pain-free life.
Your temporomandibular joints allow you to open and close your mouth, so you can chew, talk, smile, laugh and yawn. If these joints malfunction—whether because of a bite problem that is brought on by misaligned teeth, uneven surfaces on the teeth caused by teeth grinding, or a hard blow to the face—then the consequences can be a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. Perhaps the most common symptom is pain when chewing. Other symptoms may include:
- Headaches and migraines
- The feeling of an earache without infection
- Swelling on the side of the face
- A clicking or popping sound when you open your mouth
- Sensitive teeth
- A stiff or locked jaw
- Misaligned teeth or other changes in your bite
TMJ Therapy in Norman, OK
If Dr. Carmen does diagnose you with TMD, then the goals are to arrest it, protect teeth from further damage, and correct underlying bite misalignment. To do this, Dr. Carmen may prescribe an oral appliance that you’ll wear at night to reduce stress on your jaw. You’ll also want to avoid eating hard and chewy foods, slouching—good posture can alleviate pain in your head, neck and shoulders—and stressful situations as much as possible, which naturally cause people to clench their teeth.
Call Our Office Today
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, then call Dr. Bobby Carmen today to schedule a consultation to determine if the cause is TMD. Dr. Carmen serves patients in Norman, OK, as well as the surrounding communities of Moore, the University of Oklahoma, and central Oklahoma and beyond.