TMJ Disorder

During your dental check-up, we may see signs that you clench or grind your teeth- a common condition called Bruxism. You may realize that you’ve been clenching your teeth a lot lately, perhaps due to stress. Or maybe you grind your teeth while you sleep. These two things may seem insignificant, but they can have a notable impact on the health of your teeth.

What is TMJ Disorder?

The jaw joint, also known as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), allows the jaw to open, close, and move side to side and back and forth. It plays a vital role in jaw functions such as chewing, talking and yawning.

A TMJ disorder may affect this joint, often causing pain and limited jaw function. Symptoms usually arise in early adulthood, but the condition can also affect children and the elderly.

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

Symptoms of a TMJ disorder may include one or more of the following:

• Limited jaw movement
• Clicking noises from the jaw joints
• Pain when chewing
• Headaches and/or migraines
• Earaches
• Clenching and grinding
• Face, neck, back and shoulder pain
• Muscle spasms
• Toothache

Treatment for TMJ Disorder

At Ashmed Dental, we provide an accurate diagnosis of TMJ Disorder to ensure that we provide the correct treatment. The type of treatment is usually dependent on each patient and the cause of the disorder. In some cases, we will make adjustments to existing fillings/teeth. In other cases, a mouthguard is made to prevent clenching and grinding at night. Mouthguards create a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth to prevent your teeth from damaging further during sleep. At Ashmed Dental, we offer custom-made mouthguards that effectively treat grinding and various TMJ disorders.