Your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the joint directly in front of your ear. It is a hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. The TMJ is one of the body’s most complex set of joints and is made up of bone, muscle, blood vessels and nerves. The TMJ controls all the functions of the mouth including chewing, biting, swallowing, yawning, talking, and all facial expressions.
TMJ disorders differ greatly among individuals, but common causes are grinding teeth, clenching jaw muscles, jaw injury, joint dislocation and even arthritis. A misalignment of the TMJ can lead to popping, clicking, soreness and severe pain in some instances.
An Occlusal Splint is a custom-designed orthotic made from acrylic and designed to guide the jaw as it moves from side-to-side and front-to-back. This device protects the teeth and jaw from harmful habits and supports the TMJ and muscles that are used in chewing to reduce or eliminate symptoms that come from the TMJ.
Many forms of treatment are available for the different types of TMJ disorders. Schedule a meeting with us today so we can create a personalized plan to help relieve pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders.
