If you suffer with headaches, dizziness, jaw fatigue, earaches, facial pain, difficulty in closing the teeth together, pain when chewing or neck and shoulder stiffness, it may be craniofacial or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. This is a jaw joint disorder that can be caused by a variety of factors. Pain complaints may involve the chewing muscles, the jaw joints, the jaws or even the teeth. Our office provides the latest in techniques for diagnosis and treatment of TMJ and craniofacial pain. Dr. Doherty is a Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (AACP).

The TM joint connects the lower jaw (mandible) to your skull. It is all held together by muscles and ligaments. When everything functions properly, the lower jaw is in the correct position. When there is a problem, headaches, neck, facial pain and even upper back pain can be the result. Many times TMJ symptoms masquerade as many other conditions especially migraines. People may search for answers from many health professionals for years before learning that a specially trained TMJ dentist is usually the primary care giver in these cases.

Symptom Checklist
If you think you may be suffering from TMJ disorder, here is a simple checklist of the most common symptoms. If you experience one or more of these conditions, call us for a screening:

• Headaches
• Limited opening of the jaw
• Jaw clicking, popping or grating
• Jaw goes to one side when opening
• Neck pain
• Facial Pain
• Dizziness
• Difficulty closing teeth together
• Ear pain. ringing or stuffiness
• Blurred vision or pain behind eyes

Causes:
The most common cause of TMJ is the misalignment of teeth, or “bad bite.” It is possible for the Dr. Doherty to realign or adjust the teeth without the need for painful or expensive surgeries. The realignment/adjustment will stop the pounding headaches, jaw pain, dizziness, and other symptoms.

Treatment:
TMJ could be the result of several different problems. Bad bite is most common, but multiple factors leading to injury to the meniscus cartilage (disc) are also a possibility. Initially, Dr. Doherty will thoroughly examine the jaw area, the patient’s bite, take x-rays, and review the patient’s medical history in order to make an accurate diagnosis and recommend necessary treatment.

We believe strongly in conservative, non-surgical treatment for craniofacial or TMJ disorders.

Unfortunately, if you ignore TMJ, it doesn't go away but only gets worse.  The good news is that there are many non-invasive techniques for alleviating pain. Our focus is to address the jaw joint factors related to the pain by restoring proper function and improving overall health of our patients.

TMJ Pain Explained