What Happens if TMJ/TMD Goes Untreated?

Believe it or not, there are many who struggle with jawbone issues. If you’ve had jaw pain, often suffer from lockjaw, or are struggling with headaches, you may have temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMD. This disorder is not something that should go untreated. The sooner you speak to your dentist, the less lasting damage you’re likely to have!

The Ins & Outs of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

The temporomandibular joints are the joints that connect the jawbone to the skull on both sides. They give the jawbone a wide range of motion from chewing to yawning to moving the jaw from the right to the left. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) occurs when the joints are malfunctioning due to injury or another factor. Some of the most common signs of TMD are:

• Chronic headaches or migraines
• Clicking or grinding noise when opening and closing mouth
• Lockjaw
• Jaw pain
• Facial tenderness

What Happens If TMD Goes Untreated?

If left untreated, TMD can wreak havoc on your smile. In addition to causing teeth grinding, which can break and wear down teeth, it can also leave the joints permanently damaged. TMD has also been known to lead to obstructive sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder where the soft tissues in the back of the throat block the airway during sleep. The longer TMD goes untreated, the more likely it is to cause irreversible damage and cause even more serious health issues.

TMD Treatment Options

At Dental Solutions of Avon/Indy, Dr. Dipesh Sitaram has completed many hours of training to treat patients suffering from TMD. We utilize electromyography to track a patient’s muscle activity and movements to create a truly personalized treatment plan based on their individual results. Based on those results, we either move forward with oral appliance therapy or physical therapy.

Schedule Your Consultation

Are you suffering from TMD? Our skilled dental team has extensive experience treating this disorder and can help you get your oral health back on track. Please contact our office to book your TMD consultation!