TMJ Caused by Injury or Trauma

TMJ/TMD Therapy | Sana Dental | General & Family Dentist | North Edmonton

Your Alberta Choice for TMJ Treatment!

Confusing as it seems at first, TMJ is essentially a malfunctioning jaw joint. The acronym TMJ stands for two things; your temporomandibular or jaw joint, and a disorder with that very same joint. Your temporomandibular joint is easy to locate. It is just in front of the middle of your ear. To locate it, move your fingers along your cheekbones until they are just in front of your ear. Now, open and close your jaw. The movement that you feel is your jaw joint, the point where your lower jaw attaches to your skull.

Injury or Trauma as a Cause of TMJ

TMJ can be caused by many different things. Injury or trauma is something that can affect your jaw and lead to TMJ. A blow to the head can cause damage to the jaw joints along with the skull. Whiplash, or anything that impacts how you carry your head on the top of your neck, can cause jaw problems.

TMJ Therapy | Sana Dental | General & Family Dentist | North Edmonton

North Edmonton TMJ/TMD Therapy | Sana Dental | General & Family Dentist | North Edmonton

A TMJ Disorder Can Be Painful

When your jaw is out of alignment, your upper and lower teeth meet incorrectly in a “bad bite.” This is what is known as TMJ or TMD – temporomandibular joint disorder. With TMJ, your jaw muscles must work extra hard to do everything they need to do. When they tire, they recruit surrounding muscles – those of the head, face, neck and shoulders. Eventually these muscles fatigue as well, becoming strained and inflamed, putting pressure on the nerves that run through them, and sending pain signals to your brain

If stress is being placed on your jaw and surrounding muscles, you may develop certain symptoms, including:

Headaches or migraines
Jaw pain
Clicking, popping or locking of your jaw
Tingling in your fingers and back of your hand,
Pain in your neck or shoulders
Ear aches, congestion or ringing
Facial pain
Poor posture

TMJ Treatment Options Can Relieve Your Pain

In many cases, TMJ can be treated. The first step is an accurate diagnosis. TMJ is most commonly diagnosed by a dentist or a physician. The exam often starts with an assessment of your face and jaw for:

Pain or tenderness
Noises made by the joint when it moves
The alignment of your bite
How far you can open your mouth
X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, K7 diagnostics or TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) are tools that medical health practitioners may choose to help with the diagnosis. They allow the dentist or physician to see the surrounding bones, teeth and soft tissues in greater detail to determine if they have a role to play in the disorder.

Once the cause of your TMJ problem has been uncovered, the next step is finding a treatment.

Edmonton Sleep Apnea Surgery | Sana Dental | General & Family Dentist | North Edmonton

Edmonton Night Guard | Sana Dental | General & Family Dentist | North Edmonton

TMJ treatment Options

Physiotherapy or massage to relax the jaw muscles
An orthotic to help your jaw move back into proper alignment
Dental restorations such as crowns, veneers, or dental bonding to repair damaged teeth
Dental bridges or implants to replace missing teeth
Orthodontics to widen a too narrow jaw or straighten crooked teeth

If you are experiencing jaw pain, accompanied by any other symptom of TMJ, Sana Dental is here to help. If you have any questions about TMJ, or you would like to learn more about possible treatment options for TMJ, call us at (780) 476-3391 and we will be happy to help!

TMJ Questionnaire