Can TMJ Disorder Cause Difficulty Opening the Mouth
Have you ever tried to open your mouth to eat or yawn and felt it just wouldn’t open fully? That stiffness or pain can catch
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Beneath the hard layer of your tooth, there is a mass of soft tissue known as the pulp, which may get inflamed due to various reasons like infections or tooth decay. If the inflamed or infected pulp is left untreated, then it can lead to serious damage. Often showing symptoms for root canal treatment like severe tooth pain, sensitivity to hot or cold, swelling, or discomfort while chewing that may require root canal treatment.
The endodontist is a specialist for RCT and carefully cleans and shapes the under mass beneath your teeth. The cavity is then filled again and sealed, later placing a crown to restore the teeth and prevent further damage. While this process is done, you may have some level of pain after RCT for a few hours or days, depending on the severity.
The Surrounding Tissues Are Inflamed: The inflammation of the tissue surrounding the affected tooth might not subside within days after the therapy, resulting in pain when biting or chewing, until the healing process is complete.
Problems With the Bite or High Crown/Tooth Filling: When the tooth filling or the crown is a bit too high, there will be increased pressure placed on the treated tooth whenever a person bites. It might lead to pain a week later.
Presence of an Infection That Needs Further Healing: Sometimes, infections caused by bacteria from the surrounding tissues might require additional healing time, hence causing some level of pain.
Post-Treatment Jaw Joint Strain: The process of holding the mouth wide open during root canal therapy may cause jaw joint pain after the procedure.
Generally, after an endodontist conducts an RCT on your teeth you may feel discomfort, pain or swelling among other side effects. This is common and will subside after a while. Here are a few side effects related to RCT-
| Reason | Post-Root Canal Pain | TMJ Pain |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Usually localized to the treated tooth and surrounding area | May occur in the jaw joint, temple, ear, or neck |
| Type of Pain | Dull ache, throbbing, sensitivity to pressure | Can be sharp, aching, or radiating |
| Duration | Typically subsides within a few days | Can be chronic or intermittent |
| Other Symptoms | May have some swelling or sensitivity in the gums | May have clicking/popping sounds, limited jaw movement |
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