Ear Pain and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders can cause significant discomfort and impact the overall quality of an individual’s life. If you are experiencing pain, clicking, mild to severe discomfort, fatigue, or disrupted sleep, Dr. Kelley Mingus and her team at Bend Oral Surgery & Implant Center is here to help! Located in beautiful Bend, Oregon, Dr. Mingus offers cutting edge treatments, procedures and techniques to bring relief to her patients.
What is TMJ?
TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, a hinge connecting your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, just in front of the ears. TMJ disorders are a condition that affects the movement and function of your jaw, causing discomfort, stiffness and sometimes severe pain. Symptoms include, but are not limited to, jaw clicking, pain in the ears, neck, jaws, back and shoulders, headaches and trouble chewing. Many people who suffer from TMJ-related problems also experience good days and bad days. Some people might have occasional jaw pain, while others might have chronic symptoms cope with.
What Causes TMJ?
TMJ disorders can be due to a variety of factors, including genetics, trauma, bruxism (teeth grinding) and result of arthritis. In fact, experts believe that while there is no single cause, but rather a combination of genetic, environmental and structural factors that can increase an individual’s risk for developing TMJ disorders.
How Do I Know If I Have TMD?
If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort in the area of your jawbone, Dr. Mingus recommends booking an appointment for an evaluation and diagnosis. To help patients with TMJ disorders, Dr. Kelley Mingus will examine the patient’s jaw and check for pain or tenderness, have the patient open and close their mouth and obverse the joints, muscles and ligaments of the jaw. A physical exam will help Dr. Mingus discern if the discomfort is related to a TMD. These tests can also help identify other conditions that may be contributing to the patient’s pain.
How to Find Relief from TMJ:
While TMJ disorders can be quite uncomfortable, it’s important for patients to know that a majority of cases can be managed through nonsurgical treatments. Treatments can include and range from lifestyle and behavioral changes, physical therapy exercises, wearing an oral appliance, ironically called a mouthguard, to orthodontic treatment to align the teeth and jaw. In severe cases, arthrocentesis or surgery may become necessary to help correct the individual’s TMJ disorder.
Benefit From Bend Oral Surgery & Implant Center: Dr. Kelley Mingus
In addition to offering a caring, supportive and collaborative environment, Dr. Mingus and the team at Bend Oral Surgery & Implant Center provide the latest and most advanced treatment options for patients suffering from ear pain and TMJ disorders. Thanks to Dr. Mingus’s advanced training and technical skills in oral surgery and successful track record, she is confident in her ability to provide patients with the relief that they are seeking.
If you are in Bend, Oregon, and are living with ear pain and TMJ symptoms, do not suffer in silence. Book an appointment with Dr. Kelley Mingus and her team at Bend Oral Surgery & Implant Center. Efficient and comprehensive relief is only a few clicks away.
