If you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or popping in your jaw when opening your mouth to talk or eat, you may have a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder.
The temporomandibular joint, more commonly called the TMJ, is the joint that allows you to move your jaw around smoothly. Sometimes, the TMJ can develop disorders, making it difficult for your jaw to function comfortably. At Hill & Ioppolo Oral & Dental Implant Surgery of Lubbock, our oral and maxillofacial surgeon can help diagnose and treat TMJ disorders.
The exact cause of a TMJ disorder isn't always clear, but early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent more serious problems later on. Sometimes, treatments can be simple lifestyle changes, but if nonsurgical management is not successful, surgery may be considered to relieve the tension in the jaw joint.
TMJ disorders (TMD) refer to an entire family of disorders that can develop in and around your jaw joint. You may have a TMJ disorder if you have one or more of the following symptoms:
If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should seek evaluation from a TMJ expert like an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Usually, a combination of treatments and lifestyle changes will be the best way to control the symptoms of a TMJ disorder. First, Dr. Ioppolo will consider nonsurgical options, such as resting the jaw, exercises, medication management, and other alternatives. If none of these treatments are successful, or if your condition is very severe, jaw surgery may be the best treatment option.
If you think you have a TMJ disorder, or you are referred to our office for evaluation, Dr. Robert B. Ioppolo can help you determine the best course of action for your condition. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are experts at evaluating and treating jaw disorders of all kinds. For more information, give our office a call. One of our staff members will be happy to assist you.
