3 Treatment Options For TMJ To Reduce Jaw Pain

Are you experiencing severe jaw pain or toothaches? At Marlborough Dental Centre,we offer comprehensive TMJ diagnosis and treatment to instantly relieve your symptoms.

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While most people only visit the dentist when they have a dental emergency or something like a toothache, it’s far better to schedule appointments on a regular basis. Not only is this more economical, but it also allows your dentist to:

• Screen for oral cancer
• Remove any plaque or tartar buildup, lowering your risk of cavities
• Diagnose and treat any gum disease
• Check your neck, jaw and lymph nodes for any abnormalities

Comprehensive Dental Examinations at Marlborough Dental Centre

At our Calgary dental centre, we strive to provide affordable and quality dentistry services for your entire family. From TMJ treatment to Invisalign and teeth whitening procedures, we have the expertise and knowledge to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

 

What is TMJ?

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, commonly called ‘TMJ” or ‘TMD’ are a group of conditions that cause dysfunction and pain in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement.

What causes TMD?

Although the exact cause of TMD remains unclear, dentists believe that the symptoms stem from problems with the jaw muscles or parts of the joint itself.

Problems with the TM joints can be attributed to:

• Grinding or clenching your teeth
• Stress
• Dislocating the soft cushion or disk between the ball and socket
• Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the TM joints
• Injury to your jaw, head or neck

What are the signs and symptoms of TMD?

A variety of symptoms may be linked to TMD, the most common being pain in the jaw joint.

Other symptoms include:

• Inability to fully open your mouth
• Locking of your jaws
• Clicking, popping or grating sounds in your jaw
• Difficulty chewing or discomfort when biting
• Swelling on the side of your face
• Toothaches, headaches or neckaches
• Radiating pain in the jaw, face or neck

 

What are the Different TMJ Treatment Options?

If you are experiencing any symptoms of TMD, it’s important to visit your dentist as soon as possible. If left untreated, TMJ can lead to more serious health problems including hearing loss, chronic headaches and malnutrition.

If you are diagnosed with TMD, your dentist may suggest a number of treatment options including:

Self-care practices:

• Eating soft foods
• Applying ice packs
• Avoiding extreme jaw movements
• Reducing stress levels 
• Practicing gentle jaw stretches

Pain medications

For many patients with TMD, short-term use of over the counter pain medications and NSAIDs (eg. ibuprofen) may provide temporary relief from jaw pain.

Where necessary, your physician can prescribe:

• Stronger pain or anti-inflammatory medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Antidepressants

Customized Mouthguard

A customized mouthguard is one of the most popular methods of treating TMJ. Based on the specific jaw problem that is diagnosed (muscle soreness, morning temporal headaches, limited jaw opening), a mouthguard is designed to reduce loading forces on the jaw muscles and avoid further damage to your teeth.

 

Call Today

To find out more about our dentistry services including TMJ treatments, teeth cleanings and children’s dental care, contact our Calgary dental clinic at 403-248-2066 or fill in our online contact form.