The Tempromandibular Joint (TMJ), more commonly referred to as the "jaw joint," assists in the basic opening and closing movements of the jaw.
Unfortunately, this joint is a common area for recurring pain. Although conventional wisdom suggests that "popping" sounds in the jaw indicates a
TMJ dysfunction, this is not always true. Many times, your jaw is functioning properly even if a "popping" sound is present when chewing or talking.
Tempromandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD) syndrome is a common condition affecting a wide array of people. TMD is often characterized by severe
headaches, muscle tension in the head and neck, jaw pain, and a sporadic ringing in the ears. The symptoms are often debilitating and may interfere
with everyday life. The most common cause of TMD is the misalignment of teeth, often called "bad bite." Using orthodontic appliances or retainers,
Dr. Hancock can often realign or adjust the teeth without the need for painful or expensive surgery and frequently eliminate the symptoms associated
with TMD sufferers. Realignment of the teeth involves adjusting the relationship between how the upper and lower teeth come together. This may
require new restorations and/or adjustments to the natural teeth. This is a painless procedure that Dr. Hancock has performed successfully
numerous times. Some patients suffer from grinding teeth symptoms (bruxism) that typically occurs at night. Left untreated this will cause
unnatural wear (attrition) of the teeth and possible lead to more severe dental issues. Usually these patients can be treated with a mouth guard to
relieve the grinding while protecting the teeth and joint. Occasionally the additional use of relaxation techniques and short term use of muscle
relaxants are needed to minimize grinding.
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