TMJ Symptoms

Do you catch yourself clenching your teeth often or opening and closing your jaws several times a day due to tension? Habits like these could indicate a problem with the joints, muscles, and tendons of your jaw.

At Bella Dental Services, we want you to familiarize yourself with the telltale signs of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). These symptoms can be very painful and impact every aspect of your life. Fortunately, they can be easily treated by experienced Decatur dentist Dr. Roderick Cooper.

Signs of TMJ

If you experience any of these TMJ symptoms, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Cooper:

• Migraine headaches
• Soreness in the neck, head, or shoulders
• Clicking or popping noises during jaw movement
• Numbness or tingling in the arms and hands
• Jaw pain
• Earaches
• Difficulty chewing
• Facial pain
• Locking of the jaw
• Uneven bite (underbite, overbite, or crossbite)
• Limited jaw mobility
• Toothaches
• Dizziness
• Starting With the Symptoms

During your initial TMJ visit at Bella Dental Services, Dr. Cooper will ask you to describe the pain and other symptoms you are experiencing. Next, he will perform a full oral examination centered on determining how the jaw functions and expends energy while performing tasks like eating, chewing, or talking. By evaluating the inefficiencies exhibited during these activities, we can come one step closer to finding your jaw’s ideal resting position. Once this position is identified, our team can use various TMJ treatments to realign your bite.

For example, if you’ve struggled with severe migraine headaches, sophisticated jaw imaging and other advanced diagnostic testing may help Dr. Cooper identify the cause. From there, our TMJ team will develop a personalized migraine treatment program aimed at eliminating your pain for good and restoring balance to your bite. Your migraines could disappear with treatments such as dental restorations, medications, or use of a special mouth guard.

Please contact us today to schedule your initial TMJ evaluation. Dr. Roderick Cooper serves patients in Decatur, Tucker, Stone Mountain, and Clarkston, Georgia.