Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is more common than you might realize, but its presence often goes undiagnosed for several reasons. For instance, the symptoms of TMJ disorder, like chronic headaches, are similar to symptoms of other conditions, so you might not even consider a jaw dysfunction as the problem. The bad news is that TMJ pain won’t go away until your dentist treats your condition. The good news, however, is that your dentist can effectively find the reason behind your chronic TMJ pain and treat it, usually by relieving pressure on your sensitive trigeminal nerves.
It’s All in the Nerves
- Trigeminal nerves have three branches that extend throughout most of your craniofacial structures. In fact, the nerve group is the largest of your 12 cranial nerve groups and accounts for the majority of your body’s sensory input.
- Your TMJs are the joints that your jaw moves upon, with the help of your jaw’s many different muscles. However, your trigeminal nerves control this movement, and when your TMJs are disturbed, they can interrupt the nerves’ ability to send proper signals and make jaw movement difficult.
- Distress to your TMJs can result from a number of underlying conditions, such as crooked teeth, a malformed jawbone, an injury, or chronic teeth-grinding. These and other issues can place undue strain on your jaw joints and muscles, which leads to pain points along your trigeminal nerves and the variety of symptoms that constitute TMJ disorder.
Relieve Trigeminal Pain with TMJ Treatment
If you experience chronic jaw, facial, and other TMJ pain, then find out if custom TMJ treatment can help relieve the pressure on your trigeminal nerves. To learn more about your options, schedule a consultation by calling Just Wright Dental in Corsicana, TX, today by calling (903) 225-2221.