If jaw pain is part of your everyday life, it may seem normal to you. The truth is, jaw pain is far from normal and may be a symptom of a condition called TMD from one or both of your TMJs. Those are the joints of your lower jaw, called TemporoMandibular Joints. When disease or misalignment occurs, the TMJ and surrounding area becomes inflamed — which is what causes pain and other symptoms.
- Headaches
- Earaches, tenderness around the ear
- Face or jaw pain and tenderness
- Muscle pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back
- Ringing in the ears
- Clicking, popping, or grinding jaw
- Difficulty chewing, yawning or opening your mouth
What are the signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)?
How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?
Diagnosis
Treatment of TMD begins with a comprehensive clinical examination, to check your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your appointment, we will check for pain and tenderness and listen for clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If the disorder is diagnosed, a bite splint or night guard is often recommended as the initial treatment.
Treatment and Relief
Our treatment application involves bite splints, which are custom-created plastic mouthpieces, designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These type of devices prevent the grinding and clenching that often causes or worsens TMD. The splint also realigns the jaw, removing stress on the surrounding area.
Alternative Treatment Options
If a misaligned bite or missing teeth are the cause of your symptoms, we may recommend orthodontics or restorative dental work. If your bite is placing undue pressure on the TMJ’s, we may suggest reshaping individual teeth to redistribute the bite force evenly.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Our Patients Are Saying About Us!
Hasti Hosseinizand
I had a large broken filling which was bothering me on a Sunday. I am so glad the clinic was open on the weekend and could book me immediately to do the filling. The staff we so nice and helpful. Dr. Ken was so helpful, explained everything to me and did a great job at filling my tooth so that my invisalign aligner fits like before.
One more thing that I loved about this clinic was that they show the details of your treatment on a monitor before the doctor starts the work and you can make any decisions based on the costs
Richard Pearce
As a new patient of Charm Dental, I became immediately aware of the team's care and professionalism (with meticulous attention to detail) they provide to their patients. Moreover, they diligently answered all of my questions and shared insightful knowledge in return. Their premises remain pristine, modern and technologically well equipped. Overall, a very positive and favourable experience. I highly recommend the services of Charm Dental. Thank you!
S Chi
Highly recommended! Dr. Ken is super patient and nice, and professional. Thanks to his detailed explanation and great skill, I'm not really nervous. I had great experience with everyone here, from the front desk to dentists, and they all provide excellent service. Also, the front desk reception is really professional and helpful to take care of my insurance needs. Thank you!
