Risk Factors and Causes for TMJ
The exact reason for an individual’s TMJ and TMJ disorder can be difficult to determine because there are many different causes and reasons that someone can develop a TMJ disorder. However, understanding the root cause of TMJ pain will be the main guide to successful treatment. This means doing a little digging between you and your doctor to find out what the cause of the pain is. Keep reading to learn more about TMJ, what causes TMJ, and how to get proper TMJ treatment.
Understanding TMJ
TMJ is an acronym that stands for temporomandibular joint. Your temporomandibular joints are located on both sides of your face, just in front of your ears. The TMJs connect your lower jawbone to your skull and assist in movements like chewing and speaking. TMD stands for temporomandibular joint disorder. This refers to any dysfunction of the TMJ. Many people use the terms TMJ and TMD interchangeably.
TMJ dysfunction occurs when the muscles and ligaments around your jaw joints become inflamed or irritated. The condition may be acute or chronic, and the resulting pain may be mild or severe.
What Causes TMJ?
Some of the main causes of TMJ include:
- Teeth grinding at night during sleep
- An injury to the jaw or mouth
- Dental issues
- Arthritis
- Stress
- An improper bite
- Natural anatomy of the face
- A history of pacifier use, digit sucking, or bottle feeding
Some of the most common symptoms include:
- Jaw pain
- Headaches
- Earaches and ear ringing (also known as Tinnitus)
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Jaw clicking, locking, or becoming difficult to open
- Dull ache in face
- Difficulty chewing certain foods
- Tooth pain
- Swelling in the cheeks
- Depression
TMJ Treatment with Dr. Krissy Connor, Advanced Sleep and TMJ Solutions
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 3 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. She has been collaborating with physicians to treat patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea using oral appliance therapy since 2014.
Beyond her accomplishments, Dr. Connor is a mother to three beautiful daughters. Her husband, Dr. Michael Connor, is a Neurologist who shares in her passion for healthcare.
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!
