TMD & TMJ Disorders

Millions of people have a TMJ disorder, yet, some physicians and dentists still misunderstand the condition. Because of this, you may have had unnecessary medical treatments, surgery, or dental work. You may have even been told that your symptoms are “all in your head.”

At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, our team is led by board-certified Orofacial Pain specialists. We know your symptoms are real, understand what you’re going through, and have many ways to help you feel better and get on the road to healing.

If you have a TMJ Disorder, you may be experiencing one or more of the following symptoms:

Pain, soreness, or tightness in your jaw muscles
Pain directly in front of the ear over your jaw joints
Jaw pain when you eat or whenever you move your jaw
Limited jaw motion, often called lockjaw
A feeling that your jaw is out of whack or your bite has changed
Clicking, popping, or gravelly sounds coming from your jaw joints
Clenching your teeth during the day
Teeth clenching and grinding while you’re asleep
Sore teeth when you wake up in the morning
Headaches in your temples

TMJ Disorders Can Also Cause These Less-Common Symptoms

Unexplained ear pain
Ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
Clogged ears or a feeling of pressure in your ears
Persistent neck pain (particularly when you get up in the morning)
Tooth pain that is hard to diagnose or doesn’t respond to treatment
Altered sensations in your face and jaw

If you suffer from a TMJ disorder, there’s a good chance you’ve been dealing with it for a long time. Your TMJ jaw pain level may be so high, you feel like it’s taken over your life. You’re desperate for relief and want to know how long your TMJ will last.

The good news is your condition is treatable, and you can get better. Our practice is led by board-certified Orofacial Pain specialists who are dedicated to helping people like you get relief from your TMJ jaw pain and other symptoms. We combine decades of experience and extensive training with empathy and compassion.

You can make an appointment at one of our three New York City metropolitan locations (Manhattan, Westchester County, and Long Island) by calling 888-560-6674. or complete this quick form , and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

How Long Does TMJ Last?

A TMJ disorder is orthopedic in nature, and like any other orthopedic problem, it’s difficult to determine how long TMJ will last. However, TMJ is typically caused by tired, tight, injured, or sore muscles, inflamed tendons, or a compromise in the ligaments, bone, and cartilage surrounding the temporomandibular joints (your TMJs).

Treating TMJ jaw pain and related symptoms is similar to how other orthopedic problems are handled, such as knee injuries. While we cannot pinpoint how long your TMJ will last, treating a TMJ disorder requires these three things:
Successful TMJ Disorder Treatment Requires These Three Things:

1. Understanding What Caused Your TMJ Disorder

Other than specific, identifiable, single, or repetitive traumas and underlying medical disorders that compromise muscles, tendons, and joint structures, the most causes of TMJ disorders are referred to as “risk factors.” Typical risk factors are daytime jaw over-use behaviors, sleep bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding ), a bad bite, life’s stresses, tension, anxiety, with or without sleep breathing disorders, etc.
Accurately determining your risk factors is critical in figuring out what’s causing your TMJ jaw pain and other symptoms and how long your TMJ will last.

2. Stopping New Injury, If Possible

Once the risk factors that have caused your TMJ disorder are identified, the next step is to try to reduce or eliminate them. It’s not always easy, and that is where a TMJ specialist’s expertise is invaluable. Reducing or eliminating your risk factors has a strong impact on how long your TMJ will last.

3. Proper Treatment & Time

Your TMJ disorder likely did not happen overnight and won’t go away overnight. Getting relief from your TMJ jaw pain or other symptoms requires time, patience, and, especially, your participation.

Common Treatments For TMJ-TMD

Common treatments for TMJ-TMD can include muscle massage, exercises, medications, physical therapy or chiropractic care, relaxation techniques, intra-oral appliances, muscle and joint therapeutic injections, and/or BOTOX®. In rare cases, an alteration to the surface of a tooth or a change to how your teeth come together is needed.

The bottom line is that TMJ disorders are complex and take time to heal. So, the answer to, “How long will my TMJ last?” is difficult to pinpoint.

At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, we have the knowledge, experience, empathy and understanding you need to get on the road to healing. Once you understand your problems are familiar to us and treatable, you’ll feel a lot better. Call 888-560-6674 to make an appointment.

TMD vs. TMJ – What’s The Correct Term?

There’s a lot of confusion around which term to use: TMD vs. TMJ. TMD is short for temporomandibular disorder and refers to problems in your jaw joints that can cause pain and compromised jaw movement. TMJ, on the other hand, refers to your temporomandibular joint, the hinge that enables you to open and close your mouth. But, because so many people use “TMJ” to refer to TMD, they are now considered synonymous. TMD vs. TMJ? They mean the same thing.

How To Get Help

If you’re suffering from TMJ jaw pain, facial pain, lockjaw, unexplained toothaches, headaches or migraines, ear pain, neck pain, or any of the other symptoms listed above, you likely have a TMJ disorder. For help, look for a practice led by board-certified Orofacial Pain specialists, like New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain.

Review: TMD & TMJ Disorders

TMJ is an orthopedic problem caused by tired, tight, injured, or sore muscles, inflamed tendons, or compromised ligaments, bone, and cartilage surrounding the temporomandibular joints.
It’s nearly impossible to pinpoint exactly how long TMJ will last. Still, with proper treatment designed by a board-certified Orofacial Pain specialist, you can get on the road to recovery.
Patient participation is critical in recovering from TMJ jaw pain and related symptoms.
TMD vs. TMJ? Both terms describe the same thing: problems with the temporomandibular joint.

More Information About TMD & TMJ Disorders

Women are twice as likely to develop TMJ disorders. There are many reasons for this, including hormones. To find out more, click here: Women & Pain.
Ear Pain: Ear pain that is difficult to diagnose may mean your TMJs and/or jaw muscles are injured. In this case, your ear pain is the result of referred pain. Referred pain is a phenomenon that occurs when where you feel pain is not the actual source of the pain.
TMJ jaw pain and associated symptoms such as limited jaw opening (lockjaw) and TM joint noises may be the result of repetitive stress placed on your TM joints and jaw muscles due to daytime jaw over-use behaviors. These behaviors often include:

Chewing gum
Biting your nails or cuticles
Biting on pen caps, straws, or other plastic items
Teeth clenching or teeth contact during the day, at night, or both
Biting your lips or cheeks
Wide or frequent yawns
Holding your glasses between your teeth
Leaning your chin in your hands for long periods
Chewing ice

If you have a TMJ problem, you’re in the right place. Our practice can provide the education and treatment you need for healing to occur in your jaw joints and muscles and answer questions such as “How long will my TMJ last?” To make an appointment for a consultation at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, call 888-560-6674. or complete this quick form , and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Click here to find out how we treat TMJ jaw pain and other jaw problems at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain.
Still confused about TMJ vs. TMD? Click here.
If you are not located in the New York City metropolitan area, you can find a TMJ specialist near you here. Look for the designation: Diplomate.