SE Calgary TMJ/TMD Therapy

For some people, oral pain comes as a result of tooth decay or gum disease. But for others, jaw problems can be the source of significant discomfort. If you’ve been suffering from TMJ/TMD pain, East Dental Care is here to help with TMJ/TMD Therapy.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is the name given to several problems associated with jaw movement and pain in and around the jaw joints. You may also hear TMD called TMJ or TM problems. The jaw joints, or temporomandibular joints (TMJ), connect the lower jawbone (mandible) to the skull. If you often experience a clicking or popping sound when opening and closing your mouth, you might have TMJ. When your teeth are misaligned, or there is an improper bite position, there is an added strain on the head and neck muscles, joints, and teeth. Over time, this can lead to symptoms like chronic headaches, muscle spasms, jaw pain, and soreness. This can also lead to neck and back issues as your body tries to compensate.

TMD disorders are fairly common. Usually, the most significant symptom of TMD, and certainly the most commonly reported one, is frequent headaches and migraines. Other symptoms can include neck and shoulder pain, stiffness, ear pain, locked jaw, and jaw pain, bite problems, and in some cases, tooth sensitivity.

Symptoms of TMJ disorder:

• You grind or clench your teeth during the day or night
• You suffer from frequent headaches and pain in your neck
• You hear a ‘clicking’ or ‘popping’ sound when you open your mouth
• It is difficult and/or painful when you open your mouth wide when you eat or yawn
• You have ever suffered an injury to your neck, head, or jaws
• You have arthritis in other joints throughout your body
• You have noticed that your teeth no longer touch when you bite together

Our goal is to alleviate any pain you might be experiencing and ensure that you have the proper protection for your teeth. If you are dealing with any of the above symptoms, we recommend that you call East Dental Care today to schedule an appointment for a complete TMJ/TMD Therapy Assessment with our experienced dental team.

Aside from treating the root cause of TMD, the main purpose of therapy is to make the jaw and its associated structures function normally so we can eliminate the associated pain and discomfort. It’s important to identify the problem first before any treatment is considered.

Once your TMD is diagnosed, the first step in dental treatment will often be a custom night guard or splint. Before more invasive solutions are considered, it’s important first to see whether realigning the jaw, as well as preventing jaw clenching, will alleviate the symptoms. This custom-fit, hard plastic dental device is inserted over a patient’s upper and/or lower teeth to help realign the jaw and alleviate the pain associated with TMJ. It also serves to protect your teeth. Mouthguards have been shown to provide relief of TMJ symptoms for many sufferers, and they are usually the first attempt at treatment. Your dentist can then determine if they need to dig a little deeper into an alternative treatment plan.