TMJ Pain – Three Things You Need to Know

Jaws can be a real pain in the – well, neck. And, we’re not talking about sharks!

More than 321 million people currently live in the United States, 10 million of whom suffer from some degree of temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMJD), states The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, an arm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Younger people have a higher rate of TMJ than their elders, and TMJ is at least twice as prevalent among females.

Where is the temporomandibular joint?

The TMJ is the angular structure of the jaw in front of the ear. If you press on it, you can feel the movement in the joint and detect the pressure around the ear canal – one of the places piercing TMJ pain manifests itself. The TMJ is classified as a “ginglymoarthrodial” joint, which means it is simultaneously both a hinging and sliding joint.

What causes TMJ pain?

There are many sources of TMJ pain. Often it is caused by an improper bite, that does not coordinate mechanically with the TMJ, a health issue that dentist Dr. Sam Muslin treats in his Santa Monica office, using Face Lift Dentistry ®, a dental method he pioneered. With Face Lift Dentistry ®, Dr. Muslin analyzes misaligned bites with tomography imaging and then utilizes VENLAY® restorations and decades of professional experience to correct what has been out of sync between the bite and the jaw joints that do not coordinate with each other.   Some patients are physically handicapped and don’t even know it.

“Moving the jaw into its ideal position sets the stage for a slew of health improvements,” says Dr. Muslin.

TMJ cases typically are caused by:

• Medical and Physical Stress
• Teeth grinding and Clenching
• Medical problems as Osteoporosis or Arthritis
• Physical problems as Misaligned jaws and Bites
• Abnormal tooth angles
• Missing teeth causing bite and facial collapse
• A Lack of coordination between the Bite and the TMJ

No two TMJ pain cases are exactly the same, says Dr. Sam Muslin. Facial, muscle and joint discomfort can occur while chewing, swallowing, yawning, speaking, kissing, exercising, singing or smiling big for an Instagram selfie. TMJ pain can come on suddenly and is often accompanied by clicking, popping or other joint sounds. The jaw may even lock. For others, TMJ may come in the form of a dull headache or a gradual increase in the frequency of pain spasms in the temples, cheeks and neck, or ringing in the ears.

Many patients that snore don’t realize that overbites contribute to snoring and a less than optimal nights sleep.  These patients wake up in the morning tired and grumpy because they are actually physically compromised from a bad bite.

Can Dr. Muslin Help My TMJ Pain?

All you have to do is look at the remarkable transformations in his patient gallery or listen to patient testimonials to find the answer to this question. If the pain comes from the TMJ, there is a high likelihood that Face Lift Dentistry ® and lifestyle changes will correct the source of the problem.

Taking a break from eating crunchy foods as almounds or kicking the gum habit are two examples of lifestyle habits that can be modified. Learning relaxation techniques or taking a yoga class may relieve minor TMJ pain caused by mental stress. Sometimes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, ice or heat therapy are appropriate, but if it’s misaligned teeth or jaw joints hinging at a bad angle, the only long-term solution is to mechanically correcting the bite to reduce the physical stress on the head and neck regions.  Dr. Muslin does not use drugs for this type of care.

Dr. Muslin has a solid history of successful cases in which he improved the alignment of the upper and lower teeth, solving the pain problem at its source – all done without invasive oral surgery, and without grinding of teeth or drilling them down.

“I had neck aches, headaches and was being treated by another dentist in Santa Monica for a mouth reconstruction.  One half of the work was completed with the permanent crowns cemented and I was miserable,” says client Angelika H. of San Marcos. “I found Dr. Sam Muslin on the Internet, studied the pictures showing his work, went for a consultation, and he got me out of pain first and then removed all of the other dentist’s work, rebuilt my bite with Face Lift Dentistry ®, and I am totally free of pain.  I cannot express my gratitude enough.”

If you want to reverse the aging process, need a better facial profile and are having chronic TMJ pain, you may want to do more than just manage the discomfort, so give Dr. Muslin’s dental office a call at (310) 829-6796 to set up a consultation, or go to the contact page on his website and fill out the information request form.  Patients fly in from all over the world because the treatment by Dr. Muslin is faster, safer and easier than ever before.  They will feel younger and look even better.