Imagine you’re sitting in a meeting. A colleague asks you a question and when you open your mouth to speak you feel a shooting pain in your jaw. Or perhaps you’re about to take a bite of your favorite sandwich and once again your jaw radiates pain. For some people these are not simply imaginary situations, but reality. TMJ is a disorder of the joints that hinge your lower jaw to your temporal bone. Properly called your temporomandibular joints, they are located on either side of your face just in front of your ears. These joints are meant to operate smoothly. However, when they don’t, the consequences can be painful. To treat TMJ, Fayetteville family dentist Dr. Ruff can prescribe a custom fitted nightguard to relieve all the symptoms of TMJ.
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