TMJ/TMD Treatment in Waterdown, ON
Over 10 million Americans suffer from oral health issues, including severe pain in their temporomandibular joints. Also known as TMJ, these joints are located on each side of the head, just below the ear.
When these joints work how they’re designed to, the bones, muscles, and surrounding ligaments are used to help us chew and speak. When this area is interrupted, we can struggle with eating, chewing, teeth clenching, grinding, and more.
What is TMJ Disorder?
Our caring dentists at Waterdown Smiles Dentistry in Waterdown have a common goal to educate and inform our patients. TMJ refers to medical conditions that affect the joints, facial nerves, and muscles. Also known as TMD, this disorder is often caused by a jaw injury, arthritis, or a misaligned bite.
TMJ Signs and Symptoms
Waterdown Smiles Dentistry recognizes that women are much more likely to suffer from TMJ than men. Our TMJ specialist near you want our new and existing patients to be aware of the signs and the symptoms that TMJ presents.
Some of the most common signs are:
- Tenderness in the jaw or surrounding muscles
- Difficulty in closing or opening the mouth
- Pain in or around the ear
- Jaw pain when chewing, yawning, or eating
- Clicking or popping noises when opening the mouth
- Jaw soreness that peaks in the morning or late afternoon
- Sensitive teeth
- Chronic headaches or neck aches
How Our Dentists at Waterdown Smiles Dentistry Can Help
Our dentists near you will perform an exam of your jaw and face to rule out other oral health issues, such as a toothache or cavity. We do this because there isn’t a standard test to check for TMJ, so our job as dentists in Waterdown, ON, is to ensure that there isn’t an alternative underlying issue.
If we think you may have TMJ, our team will likely take x-rays or make a mold of your teeth to check for bite or misalignment issues. We’ll look into your oral health history to check for red flags or possible reasonings behind the symptoms you may be experiencing.
