triggered an abscess in a molar 4 teeth down from the root canal. The abscess was pulled.
Both of those events combined resulted in keeping my mouth open for about 2 hours in the
same week. That's a lot when you have Temporomandibular joint disorder ( TMJ).
TMJ is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the mandible to the skull. The disorder and resultant dysfunction can result in significant pain and impairment.
Well, there was pain, and there was (and still is) impairment. "Lock jaw." In fact, since then, I've only been able to open my mouth about 1" without pain. My chiropractor has been treating it, too (yes, Chiropractors treat TMJ!) and helping a lot. Maybe by the end of August, I'll be able to eat a sandwich without squashing it flat. Meanwhile, I'm hoping to stay away from dental issues... (PHOTO: Rob trying to smile with TMJ?)
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