How to overcome the pressure caused during opening and closing of my mouth?
Patient: I have a problem with my left side of my jaw. When I open and when I close my mouth my jaw feels weird with a lot of pressure and sometimes even pops. When I make certain facial expressions the left side of my cheek indents more extremely than the right. (Makes me look boney.) Doctor: Hello,I can understand your concern. From the symptoms you have described, it is certain that you are suffering from temporomandibular joint problem, the joint near ear that helps in opening and closing of lower jaw along with side to side movements. When the joint has problems in the disc that acts as a cushion when the joint makes movements or if the muscles of mastication are affected, you can face such problems. have you had any accident that may have injured the side of the face? or are you having these troubles since long time? Injury to the joint can sometimes cause such problems.I would advise you to visit an oral surgeon who will examine the joint physically while you make movements, will take an x-ray to examine the associated structures with the joint. You might have to go for CT Scan and MRI, too. Based on the test results, specific diagnosis can be made and treatment can be advised. If the TMJ is affected, you might have to go for a surgical process to correct it. I hope this information helps you. Thank you for choosing HealthcareMagic. Take care.Best,Dr. Viraj Shah