What is TMD?
TMD (temporomandibular disorder) is a debilitating condition that can have a significant impact on your daily life. It affects the jaw joint and/or associated muscles. Symptoms may include:
- pain upon opening or closing your mouth,
- painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint,
- jaw locking,
- ringing in the ear, and
- headaches.
What causes TMD?
There are many different causes of TMD. Often, it is a combination of factors that lead to the condition. These include:
- stress,
- poor bite form,
- anatomical deformities of the jaw joint,
- arthritis,
- grinding and/or clenching, and
- dental fillings that interfere with your bite.
How is TMD treated?
Initially, TMD is treated conservatively. This may involve:
- limiting extreme jaw movements,
- jaw exercises,
- massage, and
- heat packs.
An occlusal splint can help to relax your jaw muscles which can relieve, even eliminate, symptoms. At High Dental, we design and make custom occlusal splints in-house.
When conservative measures are not effective, we offer:
- photobiomodulation (low-level laser therapy) as a safe and non-invasive means of pain management,
- botulinum toxin injections (i.e. botox), or
- referral to an Oral Medicine specialist.
It is important to have an in-depth discussion with your dentist to identify what may be causing your problem. Proper diagnosis and prompt treatment of TMD are essential for providing relief to the pain.
High Dental is a TMJ specialist in Elsternwick, Melbourne. To get assistance with treatment for TMD, schedule an appointment with us today.
