{"id":322,"date":"2026-03-23T19:57:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.somersetdentalarts.com\/blog\/?p=322"},"modified":"2026-04-06T20:00:54","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T20:00:54","slug":"tmj-trouble-consequences-of-untreated-tmd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.somersetdentalarts.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/23\/tmj-trouble-consequences-of-untreated-tmd\/","title":{"rendered":"TMJ Trouble: Consequences of Untreated TMD"},"content":{"rendered":"
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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<\/a>, or temporomandibular joints, that anchor your jaw to your skull just beneath the ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is TMD?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Happens if TMD Goes Untreated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the reason for your TMD, it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dental concerns don\u2019t usually fix themselves, and TMJ issues are no exception. Without treatment, your condition could progress and result in additional health problems, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n