Jaw pain can be annoying or downright unbearable. It can make eating, smiling and talking difficult and may even cause you to lose sleep due to the discomfort. If you've been experiencing ongoing jaw pain, it may be time to make an appointment with Dr. Thomas Faiver, your dentist in East Lansing, MI. Dr. Faiver uses his dental experience in diagnosing and treating disorders of the jaw. Below are some of the causes of jaw pain.

TMJ

For many people, jaw pain comes from an alignment problem called TMJ, which is short for temporomandibular joint, the clinical term for the jaw. Also called TMD or TMJD (with the "D" standing for "disorder"), your East Lansing dentist sees many patients who deal with this common cause of jaw pain. Often TMJ is a result of a naturally misaligned jaw, although trauma to the area can also cause it to develop. The symptoms of TMJ are numerous and can include a grinding, popping, or clicking sensation when you talk or chew, a feeling that your jaw is "locked" open or closed, and pain that can radiate into your head, ear, neck or shoulders.

Other causes

When you visit your East Lansing dentist with a complaint of jaw pain, he will do a thorough evaluation to find out the cause. It may be due to an underlying problem with your teeth. Muscle tension can also be responsible for jaw pain. If you're under a lot of stress, you may be clenching your jaw that causes the surrounding muscles to become tense and inflamed. Whatever is causing your jaw pain, Dr. Faiver will work with you to treat it effectively, whether it's through dental appliances, medication or relaxation techniques.

Don't let your jaw pain affect your entire life. Contact your East Lansing, MI dentist, Dr. Faiver, to schedule an evaluation today!