Do you have TMD?

DO YOU HAVE TMD ?

If you think you may have a temporomandibular disorder, ask yourself these questions. Do:

• you experience pain in your face, ears, below or in front of your ears or headaches for which your medical doctor has not found a cause?
• you experience muffling ears or feel clogged?
• your jaw joints (TMJ), located in front of your ears, hurt when you chew and do they make clicking or crackling noises?
• your facial muscles feel tired or stiff when you awaken, during the day, after a lot of speaking or when yawning?
• you clench your teeth together while sleeping or awake? A spouse can often tell you about your jaw muscle activity during sleeping.
• have headaches in the sides of your temples?
• does your mouth open freely, smoothly and as wide as you are accustomed to doing, without pain?
• you move your jaw from side to side with your mouth open?
• you experience episodes when your jaw feels that it locks open or shut?
• you feel that your upper and lower teeth don't fit together as they usually do?
• you feel your bite comfortable? Is chewing tough foods uncomfortable or painful?
• you experience dental pain in lots of teeth for which your dentist has found no cause?
• have upper front teeth completely cover the lower teeth when you bite together?
• you feel your teeth been shifting, creating spaces or crowding for no apparent dental reason?

If you have answered "YES" to any of these questions, you may have a temporomandibular disorder and should seek care from a dental TMJ expert, who has experience and training in this field.