Are you a potential victim of TMD?

Temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD may sound like the type of condition that is found in only one out of 10,000 people—you know, the kind you only see on the television or some viral post on social media—but honestly, it is not. In fact it is one of the most prevalent medical conditions all over the world today, and honestly, you may already have it.

“In essence, TMD happens when the temporomandibular joint, or the area that connects your skull to your jaw is damaged,” shares Dr. Edward Beduya, DMD., one of the very few TMD dentist-slash-orofacial pain practitioners in the country.“By itself, TMD is not really a serious problem. However when left unaddressed, it can cause other complications and develop to a point where it significantly impacts the life of the patient.”

Emphasizing the importance of early detection, Dr. Beduya explains, “As with any sort of ailment, the earlier that you identify its existence, the earlier you can get it treated, the better. It will save you a lot of time and money. However, the thing about TMD is its symptoms vary from one person to the next. So sometimes, the best way to tell if you’re potentially suffering from it is by recognizing the causes.”

“There are many ways by which a person may acquire this disorder. One of the most common causes is loss of teeth, especially the molars. Unknown to most, molars do more than just grind food, they also act as a support and help hold our jaw in place. Therefore, once you lose them, it follows that your jaw will start to slip out of its original position.”

“Then there are accidents of course. And by that, we mean accidents that cause significant trauma to the jaw area, causing it to move out of place. Poor posture, dental malpractice, and stress may also cause TMD, along with teeth grinding, gum chewing and arthritis—essentially, any activity or illness that may cause the connection between your jaw and skull to misalign.”

TMDis a very common disorder that may lead to serious complications. If you experience any of its symptoms, including facial, neck and/or back pain, locking of the jaws, numbness or fatigue in the jaw area, and misalignment of the jaw, you are encouraged to go seek the advice of a dentist that has experience dealing with TMJ.