Is your jaw clicking due to TMJ?

Is it painful to eat steak or chew other foods? Does your jaw click or “pop” when you talk? Do you have ear pain and headaches? Have you been in an auto accident recently?

If any of these applies to you – or if your jaw simply feels like it’s out of alignment – you may have TMJ caused by whiplash. TMJ is the common term for trauma to the temporomandibular joint and is also known as lockjaw or TMD (temporomandibular disorder).

Here’s how it happens:

• With whiplash, your head and neck move forward then backward very quickly.
• As your head moves backward, your jaw doesn’t always move backward at the same speed. When this happens, your jaw can actually become separated from the rest of the skull.
• When your head comes to a rest, your jaw may be fully back into place – but the violent separation has now caused TMJ.

While some cases of TMJ require very little treatment, others are much more serious. You may need to see a dentist for braces or a corrective mouthpiece. You should also seek medical attention if you suffer from stiffness, locking or limited movement, or other pain in the muscles of your jaw.

O’Brien Boyd attorneys have extensive experience in helping clients who have TMJ resulting from an auto accident. So if you need help paying your medical bills, or if you just want to learn more about damages available for pain and suffering, you can receive a no-cost consultation from one of the attorneys at O’Brien Boyd.

For more information on TMJ, please see the websites below. Please note that O’Brien Boyd is not responsible for the content of these sites. The inclusion of any link to a site does not imply endorsement by O’Brien Boyd.

• TMJ Syndrome
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
• Temporomandibular Disorders

If you or a loved one has suffered from TMJ, please call 716-839-7777, e-mail an attorney at O’Brien Boyd, or fill out this form.