or tightness in the jaw at times. In most cases, these symptoms go away quickly. When the pain is persistent, it may be a sign of something more serious. If your pain makes chewing, smiling and even breathing difficult, you may be suffering from a condition known as TMJ.
gets its name from the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) which connects the lower jaw to the skull. TMJ disorders (sometimes called TMD) can cause chronic pain in the head, neck, jaw or face; problems with chewing or biting; and popping or clicking sounds in the jaw when opening and closing the mouth.
At Tribeca North Dentistry, we specialize in custom-made oral appliances that can help in the treatment of TMJ. Use of these appliances will decrease compression on pain-sensitive tissue, hold the joint in its proper place and realign the jaw and its muscles, alleviating many of the symptoms of this condition.