I’m Having a Hard Time Chewing

There are many tasks in life that you don’t think about unless there is something wrong. You don’t notice your breathing until it changes in some way. You pay no attention to blinking your eyes unless there is some irritant that causes you to take notice. Chewing is one of those tasks, too. You don’t pay attention to your chewing — you get hungry, you get food, and you chew it. That’s the beginning and end of the story. That is, unless you have a problem that has caused you to pay attention to your chewing. Pain, discomfort, or difficulty chewing are all signs that will make you take notice. They also may be signs of a deeper problem.

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) can cause all kinds of problems with how your jaw works. Because the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw and skull, a problem there can affect your chewing, smiling, talking, and any other activity related to your jaw. Dr. Ardelean knows how much of a nuisance TMD can be. That is why she has spent years learning how to effectively help her patients find relief from the different symptoms of TMJ disorders.

The TMJ/TMD Mystery

The mystery behind TMJ disorders is that the dental community does not know definitively what causes them. Dr. Ardelean and her colleagues know a number of factors that can contribute to developing TMD, but they often do not know which one of those factors (if any) caused the disorder. There is still a great amount of research being conducted to further understand the causal link for these disorders.

Contributors To TMJ/TMD

From what is known about TMJ/TMD, there are several factors that have been shown to contribute to development of a TMJ disorder. They are:

  • Injury or trauma to the joint area
  • Grinding your teeth and/or clenching your jaw
  • Arthritis in the TMJ
  • Stress
  • Movement of the soft cushion inside the joint socket

Call Ardelean Family Dentistry

Even without knowing the true cause of the disorder, Dr. Ardelean is able to effectively treat the symptoms and alleviate the pain and discomfort that comes with a TMJ disorder. Call her office today at (586) 465-4505 to schedule a consultation. You can also set up your visit or ask us questions about your condition using the online form. A member of our qualified staff will be in touch with you shortly.