If you are experiencing chronic headaches, jaw pain, neck stiffness, popping or clicking sounds in your jaw, or difficulty opening or closing your mouth, you may be dealing with TMJ pain or TMD. At Neighbourhood Dental Blackfalds, we understand how difficult Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD) can be to deal with in your daily life, which is why our dedicated team is here to help with effective, personalized treatment options for alleviating the associated discomfort and physical wear and tear that often results. Let our dental team provide you with the care you need to get back to feeling your best.
TMJ/TMD Therapy
Your Friendly Blackfalds Neighbourhood Choice for TMJ/TMD Therapy!
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge that connects your lower jaw to your skull and allows you to open and close your mouth, as well as move your jaw from side to side. Most of the time, the TMJ works well. There are situations however, where problems arise, leading to discomfort or severe pain in the jaw area and beyond that affects overall health.
What is TMD?
TMD, or temporomandibular disorder, refers to problems associated with your jaw movement, and the pain in and around the jaw. In some people, the TMJ becomes overworked and stressed, which can lead to TMD. If your upper and lower teeth do not close together properly, the muscles may reposition the temporomandibular joints out of their sockets in order to bring your teeth together. This misalignment can frequently lead to TMD. Often, people with misaligned jaws suffer from bruxism. Bruxism, which is characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth, is a common form of TMD, and includes neck and face pain, severe and frequent headaches, difficulty opening or closing your mouth, and pain in and around your ear.
Causes of TMD
While it is often difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of TMD, there are certain things that can lean to it, including:
- Bruxism (clenching or grinding of the teeth)
- Facial Trauma
- Misaligned teeth or jaw
- Poor dental work
- Osteoarthritis
- Stress
What are the Symptoms of TMD?
TMD symptoms can vary, and usually come on gradually so they are rarely noticed right away. If you suffer from TMD, it can cause a variety of symptoms, including:
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Facial pain or tenderness
- Pain while eating
- Popping, clicking or a grating sensation when you move your jaw
- Pain in and around your ears, ringing or hearing problems
- Difficulty chewing
- Severe and frequent headaches
- Toothaches
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth. Your mouth may even lock, preventing any movement at all.
- Sensitivity to hot and cold caused by the weakening of tooth enamel resulting from tooth grinding (bruxism)
- Worn or damaged teeth, such as chipped, cracked or flattened teeth
- Sleep disturbances
- Increased tooth sensitivity or pain
Treatment for TMD
Because TMD can present with a variety of symptoms, the best treatment approach often involves a team effort. We may work with physiotherapists, chiropractors, or massage therapists to create a comprehensive plan for your care. Our goal is to identify the root cause of your TMD and develop a personalized treatment plan to address both short-term relief and long-term wellness.
Treatment may not be necessary for mild cases of TMD or bruxism. However, professional intervention may be necessary for more severe or chronic symptoms. At Neighbourhood Dental, we offer tailored treatment plans just for you. While there is no single cure for TMD or bruxism, many treatment options are intended to help alleviate the pain and damage associated with it and improve overall quality of life. All treatment options will be discussed with you so the best course of action can be chosen.
- Hot, Cold and Soft Foods
For some TMD patients, the symptoms are minor enough that treatment options like heat and cold, or eating soft foods, are enough to alleviate symptoms. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can oftentimes be enough to help alleviate mild pain.
- NightGuard or Splint
If you suffer from TMD/bruxism, a custom night guard or splint may be prescribed. This custom made plastic dental device is worn over your upper or lower teeth at night while you sleep, and helps to realign your jaw and teeth, thereby easing the pain associated with your TMD. It is thought that by realigning the jaw and preventing the jaw from clicking, symptoms will be alleviated. The night guard also helps to protect the teeth from the physical wear and tear to enamel that results from the constant teeth grinding of bruxism, so instead of wearing down your teeth, you bite against the night guard instead.
- Botox® Therapy
A series of Botox ® injections into the muscles of the jaw can be a successful treatment option to alleviate symptoms of TMD. It does so by weakening and relaxing muscles that are used when you clench or grind your teeth. Your dentist will administer a series of targeted injections, which work to relax or weaken the muscles that are used when you clench or grind. The result is that you place less stress on your jaw, and the tension decreases. The positive effects of Botox® can last many months and can even be permanent.
Neighbourhood Dental looks forward to seeing you soon and helping you find relief from our TMJ/TMD pain.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of TMD, do not hesitate to call Neighbourhood Dental at (825) 221-1300 and our team will assist you in figuring out a TMJ/TMD therapy that will help you feel better!
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Call Neighbourhood Dental at (825) 221-1300 to set up your TMJ/TMD Therapy appointment today!
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Your Friendly Blackfalds Neighbourhood Dentists!
