Pain In Your Jaw May Be Due To Your Teeth. Call To Schedule Your Consultation.
(204) 977-8515Address Jaw Pain With TMJ Treatment in Winnipeg, MB
TMJ Treatment at Lakewood Dental Centre
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Well, one of the things that is necessary is a thorough evaluation and diagnosis and this, especially for people with joint problems, we need to determine the extent of the joint problem. We need to determine the location of the problem. We need to determine whether this is a problem inside the capsule or if this is something that is occurring in the muscles outside. The different treatment modalities are there depending upon what the problem is and therefore, individualized to the person. We work in conjunction with physiotherapy, chiropractors, other healthcare professionals because a lot of times, this is a complex problem that doesn't have just one solution. When we get into the determination of the problem, we also have to determine whether or not this is a successful treatment. Part of it, we will do a trial determination that says we need to stabilize the job—we need to stabilize the joint, we need to improve the patient comfort. This is usually done within a four to six month period after the initial therapy. For those patients that respond to that, they go from being in a situation of pain and discomfort, to people that can actually chew, eat, and smile again. It's one of those treatments that has a lot of pleasure from our standpoint for those people that are successful and that it sometimes, for those people, is a little frustrating because it can be a complicated problem that requires longer periods of time to treat and more people involved in the process, but if they're willing to work towards it, we can make a big difference for those people as well. For people that are in pain, this is it. Nobody wants to be in pain, so if you're experiencing that, I would say the sooner we see it, the better it is. The longer you wait, the more problems that occur, the more complicated it becomes, and also the more damage that may be occurring inside the joint. Earlier is always better than later.
You might not know what it’s called, but you could have TMJ disorder if you have one or more of the following symptoms:
- Jaw soreness
- Headaches or migraines
- Earaches
- Neck pain
- Teeth grinding
- Clicking or popping sounds when you open or shut your mouth
Lakewood Dental Centre in Winnipeg, MB can give you a comprehensive exam. If your symptoms are a result of TMJ disorder, we will customize a TMJ treatment plan designed to bring you relief and alleviate your symptoms. Call us today at (204) 977-8515.
Learn the Causes of a TMJ Disorder
Your upper and your lower jaw meet in a joint. That joint is also host to many muscles. If it gets out of alignment, you can experience symptoms like the ones listed above. While we can’t be certain what causes TMJ disorder, we do suspect certain contributing factors, such as:
- Stress
- Arthritis
- Trauma to your jaw
- Muscle strain
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
- and other factors
Teeth grinding isn’t always, but can be, a contributor to TMJ. If you’re grinding your teeth in your sleep or even during the day, the muscles in your jaw don’t have an opportunity to relax. You’re also putting additional pressure on your teeth that can cause them to wear down prematurely or even make your teeth fracture. If you’ve damaged your teeth, we can repair them with restorative dentistry.
If you’re struggling with teeth grinding, you should discuss it with your Winnipeg, MB dentist during your next visit to Lakewood Dental Centre. It may also be possible for us to treat you for sleep apnea if snoring or other sleep-related breathing issues are keeping you from a full night’s sleep.
Get a Customized Treatment Plan for TMJ Disorder
Each patient is different, and TMJ disorder can present with various symptoms. So, Lakewood Dental Centre likes to create a customized treatment plan for every patient. Your plan could include the use of a TENS unit to treat muscles spasms and relax your jaw. We’ve also used physiotherapy and other more in-depth treatments. Benefits can also be adjunctive to dental therapy with other modalities.
Call Lakewood Dental Centre in Winnipeg, MB at (204) 977-8515 for more information on TMJ treatment, or use our online form to request an appointment. You don’t have to deal with jaw pain on your own.