Many patients with TMJ first notice clicking and grinding noises during conversations and meals. Over time, pain may develop not only in the jaw joints but also in the neck, on the face and in the head. If the condition continues to progress, patients may ultimately be unable to open or close their mouth.
TMJ has been linked to numerous risk factors. Chewing hard or chewy foods frequently can strain the jaw joints, eventually causing damage. Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is another common cause of TMJ and often happens during sleep, when patients are unaware. Arthritis can also cause TMJ through systemic joint damage.
TMJ can result in lower quality of life and potentially poorer health if patients are unable to eat freely. At a consultation with our TMJ dentist in San Francisco, Dr. Ben Amini, and Associate dentists at CitiDent, patients can find out if they have this condition and receive treatment.