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TMJ & Tooth Pain

TMJ, short for temporomandibular joint but usually referring to the condition involving this joint, connects the jaw bone to the skull and is considered the most complex joint in the human body. Having TMJ can be painful and can lead to tooth pain.

  1. The Disease

    • TMJ is a condition that results when the joint, jaw, skull, muscles and nerves involved do not function properly in unison. The imbalance causes muscle fatigue, joint dysfunction, and/or a significant change in bone and tooth structure that can result in tooth pain.

    How TMJ affects Teeth

    • When diagnosed with TMJ, any trauma can result in tooth pain, ranging from large traumas like accidents to small but consistent trauma like clenching, chewing gum, bad bite, or cradling the phone between your head and shoulder. Bruxism (teeth grinding) is the leading cause of tooth pain associated with TMJ.

    Phantom Tooth Pain

    • Bruxism in TMJ patients can result in phantom tooth pain where an x-ray shows no reason for the pain, but the patient experiences pain warranting a root canal. The painful tooth is more seriously ground on than others, resulting in moderate to severe pain; occlusal adjustment (where the top and bottom teeth touch) to prevent contact can eradicate the pain.

    Tooth Decay

    • Due to grinding, TMJ patients have less enamel on the tops of their teeth to prevent sugars or food particles from entering the tooth. Therefore, tooth decay is more likely in TMJ patients who brux, and this may result in painful cavities.

    Treatment

    • While the root of the problem may be TMJ, bruxism causes the tooth pain, not TMJ directly. Wearing a nightguard to prevent further damage to the teeth from bruxing will alleviate many tooth pains associated with TMJ.

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