Is Your Jaw Hurting? We Can Assist You.
If you have tender jaw muscles, difficulty opening or closing your mouth, discomfort when biting or chewing, headaches, ear, neck, shoulder, or facial pain, or joint clicking or popping, you may have temporomandibular joint disorder (or TMJ for short). But don’t be concerned; you’re not alone. TMJ disorders affect an estimated 60 million North Americans.
TMJ disorder is caused by inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which is the jaw joint used to open and close your mouth when you talk, chew, yell, yawn, or bite. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Grinding or clenching your teeth
- A poorly aligned bite
- Trauma to the face or jaw
- Poor posture
- Excessive gum chewing
With careful treatment, the pain and discomfort can be reduced. At DS Dental, we employ a variety of techniques to reduce muscle tension, achieve a stable bite, and assist you in healing:
- Correct bite alignment
- Bite guards/night guards
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Physical therapy
- Neuromuscular dentistry
- Surgery (in cases of more severe pain)