Did you know? Approximately 10 to 15 percent of Australians suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, with around 60 to 70 percent harboring at least one symptom of this condition.
It’s a lot more common than most people think, and before you dismiss that jaw pain you’ve been suffering from for a while now, you might as well get it checked; who knows, you could have TMJ disorder. The good news is that early TMJ treatment for jaw pain relief has many benefits, which is what we’ll discuss in today’s article.
What is temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder?
Sometimes referred to as TMD, TMJ disorder is a condition wherein an individual suffers from several symptoms like jaw pain, earache, limited jaw movement, and hearing popping or clicking sounds when opening the mouth. The exact cause of the disorder is hard to pinpoint, which is why if you find yourself suffering from one or two of these symptoms, it’s best to see a doctor or dentist for diagnosis and treatment.
The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to the skull, performing a complex connection that allows you to speak, eat, chew, and do other facial actions. So if any of these functions are compromised, there’s a chance that you may be suffering from TMJ disorder.
Other symptoms you should keep an eye out for include the following:
- Uncomfortable or uneven bite.
- “Locking” of the jaw.
- Headaches.
- Facial pain.
- Dizziness or vertigo.
- Eye pain.
- Tinnitus.
What are the benefits of early TMJ treatment?
The adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” rings true in these cases. So what if it’s not TMJ disorder? At least you’re cleared of such a problem, but if the doctor confirms that you really are suffering from TMJ disorder, then it’s even better news because you can take advantage of early treatment and other benefits.
You’re spared from chronic pain and worsening symptoms.
The most well-known benefit of getting early TMJ treatment is to prevent chronic pain. TMJ disorder is a progressive illness, so if you leave it unchecked, the underlying issues can hasten its rapid progress, which can cause debilitating pain and discomfort. Sure, you could deal with the clicking sounds every time you open your mouth, but what if one day, your jaw starts to lock, making it hard for you to simply open your mouth? But that’s not all; you’ll also subject yourself to suffering from chronic headaches and severe jaw pain, among many other things.
Your yearly visits to the dentist can help determine if you have TMJ disorder or not, since the dentist also screens you for this and other conditions, like oral cancer; they’re not just there to clean your teeth professionally and help you achieve whiter teeth.
You’ll be preserving your jaw joint’s health and function.
Besides saving you from a world of pain, another benefit of early TMJ treatment is that it aids in preserving your jaw joint’s function and your TMJ itself. Leaving your condition unchecked can lead to degenerative development, wherein the acts of speaking, chewing, biting, and even yawning would be painful for you.
As long as you’re diagnosed early, you’ll have access to non-invasive treatments that focus on restoring your TMJ’s mechanics and function while also reducing the strain on the area.
You’ll have access to more effective treatments and avoid invasive ones.
Avoiding treatment for TMJ disorder until the last minute would only mean you’re already at its most progressive stage. On top of suffering from most, if not all, of the symptoms listed above, complex treatment may be needed to help you with your issue. Unlike in early treatment stages, where more effective and less invasive options are used, the ones used in later stages are costlier and more complex.
Later stages of TMJ disorder can lead to severe disc displacement or even significant damage to your TMJ itself. In cases like these, injections and surgical procedures are the likely treatment plan for you. Undergoing any of these means you’re submitting yourself to a longer recovery period, and it also carries a high risk compared to early treatment.
Some people could brave most of the symptoms listed above, believing that they would go away if they could wait it out. Others even opt for over-the-counter medicine with the hopes that the symptoms will go away on their own. We’re not here to judge your choices, but if you are, indeed, suffering from TMJ disorder, then delaying treatment can only lead you to worse pain and even costly expenses. It’s much better to get it checked to avoid suffering from other symptoms.
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