Tinnitus is a condition where you suffer from ringing, buzzing, or other noises in your ears when there’s no external sound causing it. It can be bothersome and can adversely affect quality of life. Most of the times, tinnitus is due to a disorder or pathology in the ear structures but in a small subset of patients, there’s a connection between tinnitus and a condition called TMJ disorder. So, what is TMJ disorder? Well, TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It’s the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. TMJ disorders encompasses disorders of this joint and the muscles around it. This ..read more

Temporomandibular Disorder, commonly referred to as TMD, is a condition affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects your jaw to your skull. This disorder can cause a variety of symptoms, including jaw pain, difficulty chewing, clicking or popping sounds in the jaw, ear pain, and headaches (most commonly morning headaches but they can trigger more migraines and tension headaches as well). If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s essential to seek treatment from qualified professionals. But who exactly treats Temporomandibular Disorder? Let’s delve into the specialists ..read more

Tinnitus is a condition where you suffer from ringing, buzzing, or other noises in your ears when there’s no external sound causing it. It can be bothersome and can adversely affect quality of life. Most of the times, tinnitus is due to a disorder or pathology in the ear structures but in a small subset of patients, there’s a connection between tinnitus and a condition called TMJ disorder. So, what is TMJ disorder? Well, TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. It’s the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. TMJ disorders encompasses disorders of this joint and the muscles around it. This ..read more

A Guide to Navigating TMJ Disorder Severe cases of TMJ disorders can involve jaw pain, clicking, and a constant feeling like your face is in a vice grip. These are just some of the unpleasant realities of TMJ disorder, a condition affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), where your jawbone connects to your skull. But before you resign yourself to a life of popping sounds and aching muscles, take a deep breath and delve into this comprehensive guide to TMJ disorder.   Understanding the Culprits: What Causes TMJ Discomfort? The world of TMJ is complex, and pinpointing the exact cause c ..read more

Vitamin B12 is a well known vitamin for heart and cognitive health but it can also help in pain states including TMJ disorders. Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs in about 15% of the population and oral supplementation is often an easy solution. The association between TMJ disorders and vitamin B12 deficiency is unclear so it is unlikely a cause of TMJ disorders. Vitamin B12 is essential for nerve regeneration and reducing pain signalling in the nerves. It also helps muscles get more oxygen (by its impact on the blood flow). When it comes to treatment of TMJ disorders, vitamin B12 can play an impor ..read more

Jaw locking usually implies that the jaw joint is stuck either open or closed. Closed jaw locking (when someone is unable to open the jaw sufficiently) is the common variety. It is usually preceded by jaw clicking. Fortunately majority patients who suffer from clicking do not have jaw locking. Jaw clicking occurs in about 30-40% of adults while jaw locking (closed) occurs in 2-8%. The scientific term for closed jaw locking is articular disc displacement without reduction. If someone has articular disc displacement without reduction but they are able to move their jaw normally, it DOES NOT requ ..read more

Susan is a 59 years old female who started having jaw pain and headaches since about 12-15 months. She suffered from COVID early last year and since then has been having dizziness, ear fullness, jaw pain and headaches. Initially she thought her symptoms would go away but her symptoms have gradually worsened. Her fever and cough did resolve in 2-3 weeks. She was referred by her ENT physician to me for an evaluation. Fortunately or unfortunately, her examination was almost normal except for diffuse muscle tenderness. Not having a clear clinical diagnosis (something that could be fixed) is frustr ..read more

TMJ pain or clicking often occurs during Invisalign which is similar to TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorders; the reason is not a simple one. In presence of pre existing TMJ arthritis, Invisalign may lead to significant strain on the joint tissues leading to inflammation and possibly worsening of the arthritis. In a normal TMJ, Invisalign usually aggravates the jaw muscles and causes pain. This can be due to increase in teeth clenching or grinding (temporary) or the orthodontic forces from the aligners being concentrated in a small area of the jaw. In these scenarios, applying warm compress ..read more

Zinc is a very important element that is responsible for optimum immune system, growth and neurological system. Even if there is no disorder in the nerves, zinc deficiency can result in constant pain in those nerves. For more info, please refer. to the image which summarizes information regarding zinc for Burning mouth syndrome. Questions: email us at brij@nyctmj.com   ..read more

COVID-19 has started a host of issues ranging from emotional to physical challenges. It has demanded people to practice the opposite of cultural norms (social interaction, entertainment etc). In my practice, I have seen several patients who have started experiencing jaw locking, TMJ pain, migraines and other headaches since FEB/March 2020. There are a few different reasons for the uptick in these pain disorders. MASK PAIN: For the greater good, we all are wearing masks and helping reduce the transmission of this virus. Masks are often associated with causing tension (even spasms in some) in th ..read more