What Is TMD?

The temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones in your skull, in front of each ear.  A general term for any problem or issue with this joint is temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.  Bishop & Bishop Dental can help his patients prevent and recover from negative effects of TMD.
Patients that grind or clench their teeth often end up with a sore jaw.  Other patients experience injuries with facial trauma that cause jaw pain, or result in the patient feeling their jaw gets stuck or ‘locks’ in either an open or closed position.  A custom night guard keeps the jaw in a neutral position during sleep, and this helps many patients find relief from TMD symptoms.  For any pain, your dentist may recommend an over-the-counter painkiller or warm and cold compresses.  To prevent further discomfort, you may be assigned stretches for your jaw. 
Whatever your symptoms, you don’t have to suffer from discomfort in your jaw.  To learn more about TMD and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.bishopdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Drs. David Bishop, Dorienne Taylor-Bishop, and Alicia Reynolds at Bishop & Bishop Dental here in Silver Spring, Maryland, call 301-608-9270.

TMJ Disorders

TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull at the temporal bone. While many call disorders associated with this joint, TMJ, those disorders are more appropriately called TMD (temporomandibular disorder), and TMD can have symptoms that range from teeth grinding and headaches to trouble chewing and pain when opening and closing your mouth. TMD is not only an annoying disorder; it is also a destructive one and can cause serious damage to your teeth if left untreated. At our office in Silver Spring, MD, Dr. David Bishop can determine if you suffer from TMD and offer ways to treat the disorder.

The TMJ controls an assortment of jaw functions, including chewing, so if you’re chewing muscles or the joint itself is in pain, it is possible that you have TMD. TMD is often caused by stress, which leads to unconscious clenching and teeth grinding while awake and asleep. TMD’s symptoms include pain, trouble chewing, lock jaw, headaches or ear pain and a popping or clicking sound when opening your mouth. However, these symptoms may be indicative of other health problems as well, so it is important to see a medical professional for a diagnosis.

Grinding your teeth is an especially worrisome TMD-associated behavior since it can lead to further problems with your mouth. If your teeth grinding is left unaddressed, you will cause serious wear to the enamel of your teeth and expose the dentin, which will make your teeth more sensitive to heat and cold and more susceptible to decay. However, you can work with Dr. Bishop to relieve symptoms with mouth guards or night guards.

If you think that you might be suffering from TMD or teeth grinding, schedule an appointment Bishop & Bishop Dental by calling (301) 608-9270. For more information, visit www.bishopdental.com.

TMD and TMJ

TMD and TMJ

Temporomandibular joints, also known as TMJ, provide a connection between the skull and the lower jaw. Most people don’t realize it exists until they start experiencing ear pain or headaches.

Here at Bishop & Bishop Dental, we see many patients who complain of unexplained pain in their jaw and determine they have TMD and TMJ. Dr. David Bishop offers treatment options to help reduce the pain and discomfort of this condition.

 

Treatments for TMD and TMJ include the following options:

 

1. Muscle relaxants and medications

2. Mouth guards

3. TMJ surgery

 

We offer mouth guards as the first option aside from pain relief medications, because many of our patients experience less pain when waking up from grinding their teeth at night. This helps them get through the day much more comfortably. TMD and TMJ surgery is typically only needed in more severe cases or when other treatments don’t work.

 

Visit our clinic in Silver Spring, MD to discuss the different options we offer for TMD and TMJ.