Understanding Untreated TMJ
Have you recently been diagnosed with TMJ, or do you suspect you may have it? Untreated TMJ can cause severe issues down the line and isn’t something that fixes itself. In fact, it becomes worse and worse over time and can lead to health issues. Keep reading to learn more about untreated TMJ, what happens to your health, and how to get treatment for TMJ now.
What is TMJ?
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. “TMDs” refers to the disorders, and “TMJ” refers only to the temporomandibular joint itself. People have two TMJs, one on each side of the jaw. You can feel them by placing your fingers in front of your ears and opening your mouth.
The following symptoms may signal a TMD:
- Pain in the chewing muscles and/or jaw joint (most common symptom).
- Pain that spreads to the face or neck.
- Jaw stiffness.
- Limited movement or locking of the jaw.
- Painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth.
- Ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or dizziness.
- A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.
What Happens if TMJ is Left Untreated?
If you have been diagnosed with TMJ or are suffering from the above symptoms, it is essential that you seek treatment for TMJ before it gets worse. TMD issues will not resolve on their own and require treatment from a TMJ specialist.
If TMJ is left untreated, the following issues will likely occur:
- Chronic pain. As you may know by now, the pain associated with TMJ issues can be unbearable at times, and if left untreated, it will only get worse.
- Severe migraine headaches. The muscles surrounding the face and head are all connected to the TMJ. When the TMJ muscles and joints are not aligned, they cause severe headaches.
- Sleep apnea. TMJ can cause an obstruction in the airway, which can quickly lead to sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that can lead to many long-term health issues.
- Mental health issues. All of the above issues can lead to a poor quality of life due to severe pain, and this can lead to depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.
Get Treatment for TMJ with Advanced Sleep and TMJ Solutions
Ready to treat your TMJ symptoms and improve your quality of life?
Dr. Krissy Connor received her BSN in 2001 at the Marquette University School of Nursing. She was an emergency room nurse at Aurora Sinai Medical Center for three years before attending the Marquette University School of Dentistry to receive her DDS degree in 2008. She completed a post-graduate residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry at the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI. Her background as a nurse motivated her to seek an area of dentistry where she could use her wide variety of skills and clinical experience to serve her community better.
Dr. Connor has been improving the lives of patients as the owner of Hypnos Inc. in Brookfield, WI. She is a diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the American Sleep and Breathing Academy.
Learn more at advancedsleepandtmjsolutions.com!
