Studies show that there are about
10 million people in the United States that deal with TMD. TMD stands for temporomandibular disorder, while TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint itself.
If you experience jaw pain, have pain on both sides of your head near your ears, and your jaws may be difficult to open or close, you may be one of these 10 million.
However, this is not something that you want to live with day in and day out. Luckily, you can go to a TMD consultation to learn about what you can do about the TMJ pain you are experiencing. You don't have to suffer forever!
However, what can you
expect from your consultation? What questions should you have and what does the process look like? Keep reading this guide to find out!
Symptoms of TMD
For starters, let's dive a little bit more into what symptoms you may be having if
you experience TMJ. Your symptoms will depend on the severity and cause of your condition. However, most symptoms will be located in your jaw and around your surrounding muscles.
Here are a few other symptoms that you may be experiencing if you have TMJ pain:
- Locking of your jaw
- Ringing in the ear
- Dental issues
- Clicking and popping in your jaw
- Limited movement of your job
- Stiffness or pain in your jaw or neck
What to Do About It
If you realize you have any of the symptoms, there are a few things you can do about it. The first line of defense would be to try a home treatment.
You should eat soft foods, use ice for swelling, reduce your job movements, and avoid chewing tough foods like jerky. You should also reduce your stress as this can contribute to the pain of your jaw.
While that is a great idea, you can also
see a specialist for a TMJ consultation. They will be able to explain a bit more about what they can do for you to make your life a little bit better without the pain.
What to Expect at a TMD Consultation
If you've tried everything at home, you've probably made an appointment to see a specialist for a TMD consultation. If that's the case, there are a few things that you need to know before you go.
Before the Consult
Before you go to your appointment, you need to make time to gather a few essentials. You first need your medical records and your health insurance information in order to save time and energy at the appointment itself. These may be needed depending on treatment options as well.
In addition to gathering the right documents, you also need to gather a few questions. You should write this list of questions down so you do not forget when you walk in.
You may be wondering what the next steps are, you may want to know your options, and you may want to understand what treatment consists of. It is important to ask all of these questions so that you have the information for peace of mind!
At the Appointment
The goal of the
TMD consultation is to diagnose where your pain is coming from. Then, a treatment plan can be made.
To get started, the doctor will ask questions about your health history. This will help to determine any pre-existing conditions, any medication you are on, and anything else that is necessary to know for the process.
In addition to learning more about your health history, there will be questions about your symptoms. It is best to be transparent when asked.
Even if you think symptoms are not related, it is still beneficial to state the symptoms. It could still be a possible symptom.
The more information you give, the better.
After a discussion of your symptoms and medical history, there will be a physical evaluation. The TMJ specialist will look closely at your jaw and your neck to figure out the alignment of them both. Any physical symptoms that you may have may contribute to the decision about treatment.
Lastly, you'll have to go through x-rays. These x-rays are to get a clear image of your jaw. The specialist may also want to take impressions of your teeth to get a better idea of your teeth's alignment and jaw alignment.
Treatment
At the end of the appointment about your pain, a specialist will have a better idea of what treatment options to pursue for your individual needs. These options depend on your symptoms, the images, and the impression that they take of your jaw.
Once you have an idea of the route for treatment, you can ask any follow-up questions that you may have for your doctor. This could include questions about follow-up appointments, medication, or lifestyle changes.
What to Expect from a TMD Consultation
After reading through this article, you have a much better idea about what to expect from a TMD consultation. It does not have to be a scary or stressful situation. Instead, getting a consultation can actually help you with the pain you may be experiencing.
If you suspect that you are dealing with TMD pain, it is best to make an appointment right away. You can
contact us at Dental Care Burke to make an appointment. We pride ourselves on our customer service and taking care of our patients!
We can't wait to hear from you and improve your everyday life!
