Your jaw frequently hurts now when you eat. You also notice a subtle "click" in the back of your jaw when you move your mouth a certain way. These are signs of temporomandibular joint syndrome, or TMJ, and it can become a very painful condition. A visit with your family dentist is needed to verify the problem. Here is what is happening with your jaw and how your dentist can help you.

What Causes Your Jaw Pain

This condition is the result of the degeneration of the surfaces of the bones that meet at the back of your jaw. The cartilage that normally cushions two bones moving together has worn down and now you have bone rubbing against bone. This causes pain and inflammation when you move your jaw. Chewing irritates the area so eating becomes a painful event.

Typical Symptoms

TMJ occurs over a long period of time, so it may creep up on you slowly. You get used to it until you start to have the pain. By then, the erosion of the cartilage is significant and you'll need help from your dentist to get rid of the pain. The common symptoms associated with TMJ include:

• Neck and shoulder pain - Your jaw becomes misaligned, which puts stress on the muscles at the back of your mouth and neck.
• Frequent headaches - The stress on your muscles irritates the nerves in your neck and upper spine causing tension headaches along your temples.
• Clicking sound - There is an audible "click" as you move your jaw which can be heard by people standing next to you.
• Tinnitus - The stress on the muscles irritates the nerves that transmit sounds so you can frequently have ringing in your ears.

Diagnosing TMJ

Your dentist will take X-rays of the temporomandibular joint and check the alignment of your bite. They may also do neurological tests to determine the extent of nerve damage. With this information, they'll determine the amount of damage to the joint and make the right treatment recommendations.

Treating Your Painful Jaw

The focus of any treatment is to reduce the pain and swelling in the jaw and return your bite to its normal alignment to remove stress on the muscles. The common treatment options include:

• Transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) - This causes the jaw muscles to relax which relieves the pressure on the nerves in your jaw and neck.
• Dental orthotics - These are devices worn temporarily over your teeth to realign your jaw and restore your proper bite.
• Orthodontics - This includes braces to permanently realign your jaw.
• Surgical reconstruction - If none of the other options provide sufficient relief, surgery can be done to rebuild the temporomandibular joint so it moves correctly without giving you pain.

TMJ can take years to develop into a painful condition. The treatment can take many months to return the proper alignment of your jaws. Have your family dentist check for this condition as soon as you suspect a problem before the joint damage becomes severe.