New Jersey Cosmetic Dentist Thomas Streko: Could You Be Suffering From TMJ?
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by: MattCBA
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Do you suffer from frequent headaches? Do your back, neck or shoulders feel stiff or hard to move? Do you sometimes feel numbness in your fingers or arms, or feel strange pain in your face? If you do, chances are you turn to over the counter painkillers for relief – over and over again. Or if the pain becomes severe, maybe you schedule an appointment with a chiropractor, or a doctor, or even a massage therapist or acupuncturist.
However, the best solution to your problem might be found in a place you’d never expect – in your dentist’s chair.
Headaches, facial pain, back, neck and shoulder pain and even numbness in the arms or fingers may all be symptoms of TMJ, which is an easier way of saying temporomandibular joint. Everyone has this joint – it’s a ball and socket joint (actually two joints, one on each side of your mouth) that connect your jawbone to your skull and enable it to move around freely so you can chew, speak, breathe and do all the things you do with your mouth.
However, the term TMJ is also used to describe a condition where the actual TMJ joint is out of alignment. This can lead to a list of unpleasant symptoms like jaw pain, popping and clicking of the jaw, grinding or clenching of teeth and a whole range of other issues that may seem completely unrelated to dental health, ranging from head and neck pain to dizziness to congestion or ringing in the ears.
If you have any of those symptoms, and don’t know why, you may very well be suffering from TMJ.
When your jaw is “out of alignment” due to a problem with one or both of the joints, your body can follow and also wind up out of alignment. This puts pressure on whatever part of your body is shouldering the load, causing pain or other uncomfortable sensations. And as bad as it might feel when it starts, TMJ can actually get worse – kind of like when a car axle is out of alignment and continues to cause damage to the car over time. This makes it even more important to deal with jaw problems quickly, before the damage to your teeth, jaws and overall health becomes more severe.
So how do you find out if your TMJ is suffering from TMJ? Your dentist can perform an analysis to determine if your jaw joints are working properly, measuring your range of motion and looking for symptoms like clicking and popping, deviation, locking in an open or closed position, grating sounds and any pain or dysfunction.
Once you are diagnosed, your dentist will develop a treatment plan that works for you – possible TMJ treatments include orthodontic and restorative treatments, jaw repositioning through orthotic devices, and in extreme cases, even surgery. The results of these treatments are often dramatic – people experience better range of movement, pain goes away and their overall quality of life improves.
If you think you might be suffering from TMJ, let your dentist know. And your next visit to the dentist’s chair could be the first step to feeling better and living a pain-free life.
New Jersey cosmetic dentist Dr. Thomas Streko has extensive experience keeping smiles – and patients – healthy. Find out more about Dr. Streko’s practice at www.drstreko.com or call his office at 866-512-7885.
About the Author
About Dr. Thomas Streko, D.M.D.: Dr. Thomas Streko has been practicing general and cosmetic dentistry for more than 20 years in New Jersey, and is committed to remaining on the leading edge of dental technologies and treatment. General and Cosmetic Dentistry Education and Training: Dr. Thomas Streko received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University and went on to receive his D.M.D. from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 1978. After graduation, Dr. Streko completed a three-year residency in the U.S. Public Health Service at the National Institute of Health. In 1991, Dr. Streko became an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry – a distinguished honor bestowed on those who have completed more than 200 hours of cosmetic dentistry continuing education. He has also presented numerous cosmetic treatment cases throughout Union County, New Jersey, including photographic documentation, and passed rigorous oral and written examinations given by the academy’s board. The program is extensive, and there are only a handful of accredited members in New Jersey. Dr. Thomas Streko is presently working toward his fellowship in the academy. Once achieved, he will be the only dentist in the entire state of New Jersey to attain fellowship status with the academy. He is also a member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the New Jersey Dental Association. Continuing Education and Community Involvement: Dr. Thomas Streko remains on the leading edge of dental treatment and technology by taking 100 hours of continuing education each year. He also shares his depth of experience with others, teaching cosmetic dentistry to dental interns at Overlook Hospital in Union County, New Jersey. In addition, he is the program coordinator for the New Jersey division of Give Back a Smile. The program, sponsored by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, provides free dental treatment to battered women. To learn more about New Jersey cosmetic dentistry and Dr. Thomas Streko, please visit http://www.DrStreko.com
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