What are TMD & TMJ?
Your Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) connects your jaw and temporal bones of your skull. At Hunter Dental, our Markham dentists should be able to diagnose and treat disorders of this joint, known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Causes of TMD
When your jaw joints are balanced and healthy, they allow proper movement of your mouth for comfortable eating and speaking. If your teeth and/or jaw become misaligned, you may begin to suffer from TMD.
TMD produces jaw muscle pain and difficulty in opening your mouth, sometimes accompanied by a popping or clicking sound. The most common cause of TMD is a bad bite which results in a misalignment of the teeth and jaws.
Other factors that may contribute to the disorder include genetic predisposition, the shape of your skull, airway issues, and injuries or trauma to your jaw.
Signs & Symptoms
One of the common symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction is teeth grinding during sleep, known as bruxism.
Grinding your teeth can eventually lead to erosion of the enamel and teeth structure, causing other dental issues. Left untreated, TMD can erode your jaw bone and cause teeth to become loose.
Other symptoms include jaw pain or tightness, severe headaches, and ringing in the ears. Stress may cause the symptoms to worsen, resulting in dizziness and neck pain.
If you have any of the symptoms of TMD, please visit your dentist to get a proper diagnosis.
TMD Therapy Treatment in Markham
We will perform a JVA (Joint Vibration Analysis) and use our 3D Jaw Tracker technology to try and diagnose TMD.
There are several options to treat the underlying causes, and your dentist should recommend the one for your specific needs.
If a bad bite is causing TMD, your dentist may be able to provide therapeutic treatment to help reduce the discomfort and return your jaw structure to a balanced state without the need for surgery.
These adjustments might help reduce headaches, dizziness, and pain.
Other treatments may be advised, depending on the severity. Speak with your dentist to decide what is an option for you.
