TMJ Treatment Hamilton, ON

The term TMJ actually refers to the temporomandibular joint in the human jaw. This is the joint that connects the jaw to the temporal bones of your skull – acting as a hinge. The TMJ connects the jaw in such a way that it allows for up and down, open and close, and side to side movement. It is also primarily responsible for manipulation of speech, yawning, chewing and language. In some instances, people can experience pain or symptoms with the TMJ that is commonly referred to as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD.

Common Causes of TMJ Disorder or TMD

The primary causes of a TMJ disorder (TMD) can be problems with the joint or the jaw muscles attached to the joint. Commonly, injuries to the head, neck or face can all lead to TMD. Other causes of TMJ Disorder include stress, patterns of clenching or grinding teeth (usually at night), and arthritis pain that cause tightening and clenching of jaw muscles or the face.

Common Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

TMD can be pretty painful or even be the cause of a great deal of discomfort. Symptoms that are commonly referred to contributing to TMD are:

• Lockjaw
• Clicking or popping jaw
• Difficulty opening or closing jaw
• Headaches
• Earaches
• Pain in face, neck or jaw
• Difficulty or pain while chewing
• Pain and tenderness in the face, neck or jaw
• Dizziness
• Ringing in ears
• Upper shoulder pain
• Toothaches

If you are experiencing jaw pain, contact us for an initial TMJ appointment.

TMJ Treatment Hamilton, ON

TMJ is a painful condition that can disrupt your daily activities. We’re here to help you resolve TMJ symptoms like clicking, popping, and locking of the jaw.

If you’re dealing with immense pain in your jaw joint and surrounding muscles, you may be struggling with TMJ in Hamilton. TMJ is a condition that makes it more difficult and painful to speak, eat, and even sleep. Undoubtedly, living with TMJ can affect your comfort and life satisfaction. Finding relief is extremely important.

Fortunately, Mountcrest Dental offers TMJ treatment in Hamilton. Our dental team can help you determine if you suffer from TMJ and offer treatment solutions. Oftentimes, dental intervention can improve TMJ symptoms. Learn more about TMJ and how we can help.

Do I Suffer From TMJ?

The first step is to determine if you may suffer from TMJ or a different underlying issue. Here are the signs you may have TMJ:

• Headaches
• Jaw joint pops and clicks
• Cannot completely or smoothly open and close your mouth
• Jaw muscle pain and/or stiffness
• Jaw soreness
• The upper and lower teeth fit changes

Are you experiencing any of the symptoms of TMJ above?

Then you should visit our dental clinic today for a comprehensive assessment.

Causes of TMJ

TMJ pain arises from several different potential causes. Finding the reasons for your TMJ can be difficult and frustrating. Genetic factors contribute to TMJ, but so does overuse and even arthritis. Furthermore, those who grind or clench their teeth may develop TMJ. The challenge is that most people or clench or grind their teeth do so during sleep.

TMJ Treatment in Hamilton

While TMJ can be uncomfortable, the good news is that there are non-surgical interventions for treating the symptoms. Most patients benefit from a combination of at-home treatments, medications, and physical therapy. For those with severe cases that do not respond to treatment, surgical options are available.

Over-the-counter medication: We may prescribe the medications to help to relieve the pain or swelling caused by the TMD. We may also suggest exploring lifestyle choices that contribute to relaxing the muscles and decrease instances of clenching or grinding teeth.

Nightguard: One of the most commonly recommended treatments for TMJ Disorder are custom-molded plastic night guards that fit over the lower or upper teeth. They are designed in such a way to prevent subconscious grinding which typically occurs at night. It can also contribute to an improvement in biting form over time and increase airflow at night.

Possible Dental Work: Depending on the case, there may be protruding teeth or crowns/bridges that are contributing to pain in the jaw. This will have to be determined in the office during consultation and testing. In very severe circumstances, we may recommend a surgery with an oral surgeon.

Orthodontic treatment: a misaligned bite, or malocclusion, could be contributing to your jaw pain. Crooked teeth or an irregular bite create traumatic forces which put strain on your jaw joints and cause tooth wear.

If you think you may have TMJ, Mountcrest Dental is here to help. We can assess your jaw and offer the best course of dental treatment for TMJ. Addressing misalignment and crafting a custom night mouthguard are just a few ways we can help. Schedule your TMJ appointment with our dental team today!