TMJ Trouble: Consequences of Untreated TMD

Many people only think of their teeth when they consider their dental health, but your mouth has additional components, like your jaw, that are equally as significant. For example, you have two TMJ, or temporomandibular joints, that anchor your jaw to your skull just beneath the ears.

Under normal circumstances, these give your mouth a full range of motion. But if they become overworked, it can trigger a disorder that can leave your jaw feeling stiff or sore. Continue reading to learn more about the risks of waiting too long to treat your condition!

What is TMD?

TMD refers to a TMJ disorder, and can be caused by several different factors. For example, you might develop an issue if you suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding. The added pressure of constantly clenching down can trigger the muscles, ligaments, and tissues around these tender joints to become inflamed, triggering an ache that can spread to your neck, cheeks, and ears.

You might also develop TMJ if you have a bite misalignment, such as a severe overbite, underbite, or crossbite, which forces your jaw to overcompensate to perform basic tasks, such as biting, chewing, and speaking.

What Happens if TMD Goes Untreated?

Whatever the reason for your TMD, it’s important to contact your dentist for help sooner rather than later. Although your current condition might not require a same-day emergency visit right now, if you wait too long to address the problem, you might eventually need one.

Dental concerns don’t usually fix themselves, and TMJ issues are no exception. Without treatment, your condition could progress and result in additional health problems, such as:

• Insomnia or sleeping disorders, including sleep apnea
• Premature wear and tear of your teeth, increasing the likelihood of developing cavities or sustaining injuries
• Tinnitus or a ringing or buzzing sound in your ears
• Potential malnourishment due to challenges biting and chewing healthier foods

How Do Dentists Address TMD?

Thankfully, many dentists offer services to help improve your condition to prevent potential dental concerns. For example, they can provide a custom-fitted nightguard for bruxism, which helps correct your jaw’s position to reduce the pressure placed on your joints, allowing them a chance to rest and recover.

They might also offer additional treatment options, such as EMFACE®, which is a non-invasive device that is placed over your TMJ. This device uses radiofrequency energy to warm the tissues surrounding your jaw joints to relax the muscles, which can help alleviate aches and enhance your mouth’s range of motion.

If your jaw hurts and you’re uncertain whether you have TMD, the best next step is to contact your dentist to schedule a consultation and examination!

Meet the Author

Dr. DawnMarie DiGrazia is passionate about providing a complete menu of high-quality procedures to help patients build and maintain beautiful, healthy smiles. She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and today, is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and other organizations so you can trust your teeth are in good hands. She uses advanced technology to deliver state-of-the-art services, including EMFACE® for TMJ. You can request an appointment on the website or call (908) 722-2999.