Serving Patients in the areas of Grand Rapids, Holland, and Big Rapids MIKnown as TMJ disorder or TMD, temporomandibular joint disorder affects more people than you may think—and many who suffer from the disorder may not even know they have it. According to the website of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, estimates suggest that more than 10 million Americans suffer from TMD. Many suffer from TMD and its consequences for decades before receiving an accurate diagnosis. Some people may never have TMJ disorder diagnosed, meaning they live with the ailment and the chronic, debilitating pain it can cause for their entire lives.
If you suffer from TMJ disorder and ignore the problem for too long, standard treatments may not be enough to resolve the matter. Even jaw surgery may be needed to find relief. The best way to treat TMD is to receive diagnosis and treatment from specialists like the ones on staff at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan. First, let’s look at why a case of TMJ disorder may go undiagnosed for years.
It is impossible to obtain diagnosis and treatment for an ailment such as TMD until the patient suffering from the disorder realizes they have a problem. This realization may be difficult to achieve, as people may not understand how severe their symptoms are. Also, the symptoms of TMJ disorder can vary widely from patient to patient; as a result, it may be difficult to discover the connection between symptoms. For example, a patient suffering from ringing in the ears may seek medical help but not think to mention any jaw pain or headaches, because they do not see the potential connection.
While people are sure to notice pain, especially if it is at a severe level, other symptoms are easier to ignore—such as hearing a popping or clicking sound in the jaw. Also, symptoms of TMD may come and go when a case of the disorder is in its early stages, thus making people think no problem exists or that whatever was causing the symptoms just went away on its own. Certain symptoms, such as tooth wear, may not be noticed until significant damage has been done.
Many medical professionals, including doctors working as general practitioners and regular dentists, do not have the proper grasp on TMJ disorder and its potential symptoms. For example, many patients who suffer from headaches caused by TMJ are misdiagnosed as having migraines. If you have been living with these chronic and severe headaches, but migraine medications only treat the severity of the headaches but doing nothing to alleviate their frequency, then your headaches actually could be caused by a malfunction of the temporomandibular joint.
For this reason, specialists that have training and education in treating TMJ disorder are the best-qualified medical professionals to provide relief from your chronic pain. At TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan, our doctors have specialized training that focuses on the alignment of the bite and jaw. Our doctors also operate at the forefront of the field and have gone through extensive post-graduate education that goes well beyond dental school to study the importance of jaw and bite alignment. Using state-of-the-art technology in combination with their advanced training, our doctors have the rare combination of skills and tools to identify if a case of TMD exists and then treat the disorder. This treatment also alleviates the symptoms caused by TMJ disorder, including chronic pain.
If you think you have TMJ disorder or you have been diagnosed with this condition by another medical professional, then the doctors at TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan can provide solutions to your pain. Contact our office today at (616) 458-0631 to schedule a consultation.
TMJ & Sleep Disorders of Michigan is here to serve patients in the areas of Grand Rapids, Holland, and Big Rapids, Michigan.
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