TMJ / TMD PAIN CARE & TREATMENT CALGARY NW

TMJ headaches, jaw, neck, and ear pain? It might be your ... bite. Indeed, a misaligned bite can create strain on many parts of the upper body. Come in for a TMJ diagnosis. Nosehill Dental, for TMJ treatment in Calgary NW.

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If you suffer from regular neck pain, jaw pain or headaches, have noticed that your jaw clicks or pops, have trouble opening or closing your mouth when speaking or eating, and/or experience radiating pain in your jaw, you may be suffering from TMJ pain, otherwise known as Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD). Nosehill Dental is here to help! At Nosehill Dental, we understand that the constant pain and discomfort from TMJ can negatively affect your life. That is why we are committed to providing safe and effective treatment to help ease the various symptoms associated with this condition, and help those who suffer from it attain better overall health and wellness.

What is TMJ and what causes it?

The temporomandibular joint, the TMJ, is the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull on both sides of the head, and allows the mouth to open and close, as well as the jaw to move from side to side. The TMJ generally works well for most people and causes no issues. For some people however, problems arise with TMJ that can cause severe discomfort and pain, and affect overall health and wellness. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a complex set of conditions characterized by pain and dysfunction as a result of problems with the TMJ (jaw, jaw joint and or surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and jaw movement). TMD results in a large range of symptoms that vary for each individual. It can include significant face and neck pain, headaches, damaged teeth, tooth pain, stiff neck muscles, limited mouth opening, ear pain and tingling in the ears (tinnitus). It may also include painful clicking, popping, or grating of the jaw joint when opening and closing the mouth. A common form of TMD is Bruxism.

Bruxism is the term used to describe teeth grinding. Bruxism can be caused by several things and often an individual’s condition has multiple contributing factors. It is vital that you consult your dentist, who may need to perform various tests, take x-rays, and seek referrals to determine the nature of your condition before undergoing any treatment.

Causes of TMD

In many cases, the exact cause of TMD is not clear. Dentists believe symptoms often arise from problems with muscles of the jaw or with parts of the joint itself. Other contributing factors may include:

• Injury to the jaw, TMJ, nerves or muscles of the head and neck. eg. A heavy blow, whiplash or MVA
• Grinding or clenching the teeth which results in a lot of pressure on the TMJ
• Dislocation of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket joint of the TMJ (lockjaw)
• A “bad bite” or what is technically referred to as malocclusion, eventually leading to an imbalance in the relationship between the upper and lower jaws, which can result in an unnatural, strained position for the muscles of the jaw. When this happens, muscles may compensate by constantly contracting. This can easily cause muscle spasm, pain, and soreness. As they fatigue, there is a build up of lactic acid and other waste products, which can cause further spasms and discomfort. At some point, the body can work to flush out the muscles with increased blood flow, resulting in pounding headaches. Muscles work together as a team. When the jaw muscles, which are involved with chewing, biting, talking, breathing and head posture are overused, they recruit muscles of the neck, shoulder, and back. The tight, painful, contracted muscles of the jaw result in pain in the muscles of the neck, shoulder, and back. Neuromuscular treatment may help to relieve many of these issues.
• Presence of osteo or rheumatoid arthritis in the TMJ
• Emotional/Psychological Stress
• Sleep disorders and breathing difficulties
• Worn, ill-fitting dentures

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There are several options to consider for the treatment of TMD/Bruxism. These should be discussed in consultation with your Dentist, as they are the only people qualified to assess all aspects of the condition and help you determine the most appropriate choice for your individual circumstances. Available treatment options address different aspects of the condition depending on the cause, and they vary in cost, complexity and the expected results, including how long results last and potential complications. While no single treatment has proved universally effective for all patients, many patients need to try several treatment methods before finding relief of their symptoms. Treatment can involve several health care professionals, including physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors etc. At Nosehill Dental, we will try to determine the root cause of your TMD, and develop an individualized treatment plan for your special needs. Dentists strongly recommend using the most conservative, reversible treatment possible so as to not further contribute to the problem.

Current treatment options include:

• Pain/Relaxation/Anti-inflammatory medications
• Oral appliances called splints or bite/night guards
• Massage/Manipulation/Exercise of the TMJ and associated muscles
• Orthodontics (braces) and dental work/bite adjustment/physiotherapy
• BOTOX injections into the muscles of mastication - If other preventative treatments have not eased your chronic migraine symptoms, it is reasonable to consider dental Botox as a treatment. It is quick, low risk and may be the answer to more symptom-free days. Note that some private drug plans will pay for Botox migraine treatments, so it is a good idea to check with them in advance.
• TMJ Surgery

Keeping Your Bite and Jaw Happy

As there is actual designation called “TMJ specialist,” Nosehill Dental uses a neuromuscular and physiological approach to TMJ disorder. We can help to determine if the symptoms you are experiencing are the result of a bad bite. We then go through a series of steps to not only relieve your symptoms but to also help correct the cause of these issues. Treatment may begin with the relieving of muscle spasms and the associated pain. We use a unit called a Myo-monitor which helps to relax the patient’s muscles. The Myo-monitor stimulates the Trigeminal Nerve and The Facial nerve using a very mild electrical impulse. After TENSing there is much less activity, and the muscle may be much “happier”.

What it means to have a comfortable bite

After the muscles are relaxed, we start the next phase of treatment which is bite stabilization. We fabricate a temporary appliance, known as an orthotic, which is worn on the teeth. The orthotic works to keep the muscles in the “happy” position, which was established with the use of the Tens unit. Once a patient is stable, we work to correct the bite in order to help keep the jaws in this comfortable position.

Sometimes, it may be possible to use orthodontic treatment to move the teeth into a position that is comfortable for the muscles.

Trust us with your TMJ treatment in Calgary! Book Your TMJ Consultation with our TMJ Dentist in Calgary NW.

Nosehill Dental is here to help you with your TMD treatment, to help minimize your symptoms and improve your overall health and wellness. If you are experiencing jaw pain coupled with any other symptoms of TMJ/TMD, please contact our dedicated team at (403) 241-1900 and we will be happy to help!

We look forward to hearing from you soon. Call Nosehill Dental at (403) 241-1900 to set up an appointment today!