When you get a new medical diagnosis, chances are you’re going to have a lot of questions that go along with it. A temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ dysfunction) diagnosis is no exception. From what to eat to how to ease some of the pain that goes along with this disorder, there can be a lot to learn – and a lot to cover. Here are a few common questions and answers about temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Are these symptoms normal? Because of the nature of TMJ dysfunction pain, one of the most common questions people have is if the pain they are experiencing is a normal side effect of the condition. Because of its location, the temporomandibular joint affects many systems of the body, including the head, neck and back. If you are experiencing pain and stiffness in any of these areas, it could be due to your TMJ dysfunction. Another symptom that sometimes surprises people is tinnitus (ringing in the ears), which can also be caused by TMJ dysfunction due to the TMJ joint’s close proximity to the ears. What do I do if my jaw locks? When many people think of TMJ dysfunction, they think of a stiff or locked jaw. This can certainly happen with TMJ dysfunction, though it does not happen in every case. If it does happen to you, the first thing you should do is apply warm compresses to the jaw to soften the muscles and joints. Do not force the jaw open, as this can make the pain worse. If you can, call (or have someone else call) Dr. George and schedule an appointment. Is there a cure for TMJ dysfunction? While there is no cure for TMJ dysfunction, there are several treatment options. The best and least invasive is neuromuscular orthodontics, which reposition the lower portion of the jaw so it aligns better with the temporomandibular joint. This treatment is an investment in time that will pay off in a pain-free life. How can I prevent my TMJ dysfunction from flaring up? Sometimes we have no control over whether our TMJ dysfunction symptoms act up, but there are things we can do to help prevent or lessen their severity. For example, limiting chewy or crunchy foods and not clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth can all help remove undue pressure on the jaw. If you find yourself clenching or grinding, contact Dr. George about a custom bite guard that may absorb some of the shock from your jaw. A recent study even found that gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, may contribute to TMJ dysfunction, so if you find yourself experiencing frequent heartburn or acid reflux, consider seeing a gastroenterologist and treating this condition, as it could be influencing your TMJ dysfunction, too. For answers to any of your TMJ dysfunction questions, please call Dr. George at 724-220-2347.

Have you ever had a headache that was so bad you couldn’t focus on anything else? What about a toothache, or an ear infection? If you think about the pain caused by each of these ailments, how do you feel they compare to, say, a stubbed toe, a sprained ankle or a cut on the finger? If you’re like many people, chances are you will think, for whatever reason, that pain in your head is worse than pain anywhere else in the body. Well, until recently this was just a theory. But recently, a team of researchers at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, set out to test that very theory, and see why head pain seems so much worse than pain elsewhere in the body. What they found may surprise you. Published in the December 2017 issue of the journal Nature Neuroscience, the Duke University study reveals that the neurons that sense pain in the head are directly linked, via an express route, if you will, to the neurons in the brain that link to our emotions - emotions such as fear, pain, anxiety and depression. "In the head, the pathway between the pain receptors and emotions occurs in the trigeminal ganglion and runs to the parabrachial nucleus and on to other emotion receptors," says Dr. Alexandra George, a dentist who treats patients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. "It’s like taking a direct flight from New York to Boston. On the other hand, in the rest of the body, there are pathways, but they are not directly linked to those emotional centers. If you think of this as a flight, it’s more like a flight from Los Angeles to New York with a layover in Chicago." George sees patients with this type of severe pain regularly at her Wexford, Pennsylvania, practice. She says it is not unheard of for patients with TMJ disorder to be in so much pain they cannot focus on anything else. So, now that we know that the idea of pain feeling more intense in the head isn’t "all in our head," what can be done with that information? Researchers in the study hope to use it to focus more closely on the TRPV1 and CGRP molecules and possibly even sever monosynaptic pathways that enable this type of pain to occur. In the meantime, George says there are still ways to manage the pain from conditions like TMJ disorder, such as neuromuscular dentistry and orthodontics to realign the jaw to an optimal position. "This allows for the jaw to sit comfortably and function properly, alleviating much of the pain you experience with TMJ disorder," says George. "There’s really no need to suffer through that kind of pain."