Jaw Pain Is Not Normal
If jaw pain is part of your daily life, it may feel normal to you, but it’s not. Persistent jaw pain can be a symptom of TMD affecting one or both of your TMJs—the joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull. When these joints become misaligned or inflamed, it causes pain and other uncomfortable symptoms.
- Headaches
- Earaches or tenderness around the ear
- Face or jaw pain and tenderness
- Muscle pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back
- Ringing in the ears
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds in the jaw
- Difficulty chewing, yawning, or opening your mouth fully
What Are the Signs of TMJ Disorder (TMD)?
How Do We Diagnose and Treat TMJ Disorder?
Diagnosis
Treatment begins with a comprehensive clinical exam by your Dentist in Toronto to assess your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your appointment, we check for pain, tenderness, and listen for clicking or popping noises when you open or close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If TMD is diagnosed, a bite splint or night guard is often the first treatment recommended.
Treatment and Relief
Bite splints are custom-made plastic devices that fit over your upper or lower teeth. They help prevent grinding and clenching, which often worsen TMD symptoms. The splint also helps realign your jaw, reducing stress on the surrounding area.
Alternative Treatment Options
If a misaligned bite or missing teeth contribute to your symptoms, orthodontic or restorative dental work may be recommended. Sometimes reshaping individual teeth helps redistribute bite forces to relieve pressure on the TMJs.
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
TMJ refers to the Temporomandibular Joint. When this joint becomes misaligned or inflamed, it’s called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD.
Symptoms include pain or tenderness around the ear, jaw joint, or muscles of the jaw, face, or temples. You may also notice difficulty opening or closing your mouth, and clicking, popping, crunching, or grinding sounds during chewing or yawning. TMD is often linked with neck pain and headaches.
TMD has multiple causes, including jaw injuries and joint diseases like arthritis. Bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding) and muscle tension in the head or neck can worsen symptoms. Stress may contribute but it’s unclear if it causes or results from TMD. Other causes include poorly fitting dentures and habits like nail or pen biting. Because of these varied causes, TMD can be challenging to diagnose accurately. The best way to understand your symptoms is to schedule an appointment.
Headaches have many possible causes, and no doctor can diagnose the cause without a physical exam.
Most TMJ pain can be effectively treated with non-invasive therapies. Surgery is very rarely needed. Your health and well-being are our priorities. We will always present all your treatment options, starting with the safest and simplest, and help you decide what comes next.
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