Most of us can go through our entire lives without giving much thought to the smaller parts of our bodies that we use all the time. One of these parts is the temporomandibular joint (or TMJ) or the joint that helps your jaw move. Most of us don't spend much time (if any time at all) thinking about this. In fact most of us don't start thinking about our bodies until something starts to hurt. Of course, once something starts to hurt, then it is all that we tend to think about. The same is true for TMJ irritation. And when this occurs, you might need to see a doctor for TMJ diagnosis and treatment. A professional diagnosis is the best way to figure out what's really the problem and treat it appropriately.

TMJ disorders and problems affect roughly ten percent of the population at least once in their lifetimes. Usually, however, it is a small problem that can easily be cured with some preventative treatments. Sometimes, unfortunately, the problems happen because of serious jaw disorders and once in a while these problems require corrective surgery. The good news is that this only happens to a very small percentage of the people who experience problems with their TMJ.

One of the best ways to ensure that you are able to properly treat a TMJ disorder is to recognize the symptoms associated with it and know when to see your physician and dentist. While the pain could be localized to your actual joint, it is possible for it to radiate to other places on your face and up to your ear. Some people hear clicking while they chew or talk but that isn't a definite symptom of a TMJ disorder. Sometimes it may also cause headaches or an uneven bite (which can cause problems with chewing).

When you visit your doctor and dentist to have a TMJ disorder diagnosed, you will go through a series of tests. Your doctor will start by having you move your jaw in different directions while he or she listens for any noises and feeling for any odd movements that the joint might be making. Some doctors and dentists will analyze your bite by having you bite down on a piece of wax. This will help them see how your teeth come together when you bite. Lastly they might do a series of x-rays or other procedures that will help them see exactly how your jaw is set and identify any problems that could be contribute to TMJ disorder.

Typically, these disorders are easily treated with simple stress management. This is because most are caused by repetitive motions like chewing or teeth grinding. You might also need some dental or orthodontic treatment to solve the problems and treat the disorder. There are also some other good resources that are available to solve the problem yourself that have proven to be effective and less expensive. Whatever your treatment plans, remember that all of the treatment you do is to increase the health of your TMJ joint.