Do you or someone you know have any of the following symptoms?

• Pain in the face or head region
• Tooth pain with no evidence of decay, infection or trauma
• Neck or shoulder aches
• Soreness or pain in front of the ear
• Grinding your teeth
• Burning sensation in the mouth of tongue
• Clicking, popping noises as your jaw opens and closes
• Limited range of jaw movement or locking of your jaw

You may have TMJ (temporomandibular) disorder. The previously mentioned ailments are not the problems, but symptoms of the disorder. The source of your symptom may be misaligned teeth. This may cause grinding, clenching and stress on your muscles and tendons, some of which may occur in your sleep. Other conditions, which may contribute to or cause TMJ disorders, include disease, nutritional deficiencies (e.g. gout), tumors, trauma, or infection. A through dental examination is the first step toward a solution.