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Question:
My daughter called from college (we live overseas) and is having pain about a week and half. She has never had dental problems and didn't get hurt. She has bad pain biting down too hard and back teeth aren't meeting. No clicking in jaw.
Wakes up and can barely open mouth until she works it around awhile. Pain is almost constant when not eating also, but not as bad. It's not her wisdom teeth as she has no tenderness in that area of gums at all. Pain seems at the joints.
Do I advise her to go to a dentist and how do I know which one would treat this problem? Does this sound like something that may just go away? Could it come from possible clenching of teeth in night? Never had that problem before but always a first time. What do I advise her please? ...Visitor from Praia da Vitoria, Azores, Portugal
Answer:
It sounds like your daughter is having trouble with her temporomandibular
joint.
Things to do:
1. Get on a soft diet and try not to stress the joint. No gum, steak etc...
Go with soup and maybe fish.
2. Use some anti-inflammatory medication like advil or motrin 800 mg 4 times per day for 5 days.
3. Use some warm moist towels in the area to try to relax the muscles.
These are the first things we tell our patients who have these problems,
especially when they are new problems. Later we may add a splint or a
number of other treatment modalities. The problem is in the joint but you do not know whether or not the problem is with the joint or from another source.
I have seen things like this be an ear infection or something like that as well. If she will try these things then she may get much better quick. If that is the case she had a muscle spasm problem. If not then she does need to see the dentist first who understands these kinds of problems. There are a number of things that can be done to help there.
If that does not work then she may need to see an ENT physician. I expect the problem to be resolved with the dentist though.
James Sanderson, DMD
Alabama Teeth In An Hour
Alabama Sedation Dentist
1633 Montgomery Highway
Birmingham, AL 35216
(205) 979-6005
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