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South Edmonton TMJ/TMD Therapy

Your South Edmonton Choice for TMJ/TMD Therapy

TMD/TMY Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

Strathcona Dental Clinic offers TMJ/TMD Therapy to alleviate your symptoms, protect your teeth and help you achieve optimal oral health. If you are experiencing discomfort or pain in your jaw, noticing a popping or clicking sound or restricted jaw movement when you open or close your mouth, or experiencing regular headaches or migraines, you might be dealing with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. If you have been suffering from TMJ/TMD, Strathcona Dental Clinic is here to help! We are pleased to offer TMD treatment options to alleviate your pain and discomfort and help you attain optimal oral health.

TMD/TMY Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

What is TMJ?

TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

Your mouth is an important part of the body, allowing you to perform basic functions like eating and speaking. It can do these jobs thanks to the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. The TMJ is the “hinge” that connects your lower jaw to your skull. It is responsible for the opening and closing of your mouth, as well as moving your lower jaw from side to side. The bones that form this hinge are covered in cartilage, which surrounds a disc. This disc acts as a shock absorber of sorts, absorbing the impact from daily use. As with any other joint, the TMJ works well most of the time. However, there are occasional instances in which problems occur. This not only causes severe pain, but it can also affect your overall health as well.

TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton
TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

What is TMD?

TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) refer to problems associated with jaw movement and pain in and around the jaw joints. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the lower jawbone to the skull on both sides of your head, and it controls the movement of the jaw, including sliding back and forth and opening and closing. In some people, the joint becomes overworked or stressed, which can lead to TMD. Bruxism, which is characterized by clenching or grinding of the teeth, is one common form of TMD.

Causes of TMD

TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

When there is an issue with your TMJ, it can cause temporomandibular disorder (TMD). While the exact cause of TMD can be difficult to pinpoint, there are certain factors that can lead to it, including:

  • Bruxism, or the grinding and clenching of your teeth
  • Facial trauma
  • Misaligned teeth or jaw
  • Poor dental work
  • Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
  • Stress
TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton
TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

Symptoms of TMD

TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

TMD is almost never noticed immediately. This is because the symptoms of TMD come on gradually and over time. In some instances, you might not even know that something is wrong with your TMJ because the symptoms make you think that it is an entirely different issue.

Common symptoms of TMD include:

  • Jaw pain
  • Facial pain
  • Difficulty opening and closing your jaw may even lock, preventing any motion at all
  • Pain or difficulty chewing
  • Popping, clicking, or a grinding sensation when you move your jaw
  • Frequent headaches
  • Earaches

Diagnosing TMD

Dental Implants | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

If you are experiencing any symptoms of TMD, it is important for you to make an appointment with your dental professional. At Strathcona Dental Clinic, we will perform a complete, comprehensive evaluation – checking the alignment and condition of your teeth, evaluating your bite, and checking for areas of tenderness. If necessary, we will take a CBCT scan, which allows us to examine your facial bones and muscles.

Dental Implants | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton
TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

Treatment for TMD

TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

If TMD is determined to be your issue, the Strathcona Dental Clinic team will design a tailored treatment plan. There are several types of treatment options for TMD, all of which are designed to help relieve the pain and damage associated with TMD. We will discuss your options with you and help you choose the best course of action based on the determined cause of your TMJ trouble and the associated symptoms. Some of the most common treatment options for alleviating TMD symptoms are Night Guards and Botox Injections. In more advanced cases, referrals to TMJ specialists and/or orthodontists may be needed to re-align the teeth and bite or manage the symptoms.

  • A Nightguard or Splint: You may be prescribed a nightguard or splint if you suffer from bruxism, thereby alleviating your TMD symptoms. A splint is a custom-made dental appliance that is worn to prevent clenching and grinding. The splint/night guard also helps to protect the teeth from the physical wear and tear resulting from the constant grinding of bruxism so that you bite against the night guard instead of wearing down your teeth.
  • Botox: In some cases, a series of Botox injections may be prescribed to weaken the masseter muscles and reduce the stress placed on the jaw joint from bruxism.

Why use Botox as a treatment option for TMJ?

TMJ/TMD Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

When you think of Botox, you probably think of its uses in the field of cosmetics. Botox (botulinum toxins) refers to an injection that relaxes muscles. While it is commonly used for lessening wrinkles and restoring a more youthful appearance, it can also be used in a therapeutic non-surgical way to treat teeth grinding and TMD. When injected into masseter (chewing) muscles, the released neurotoxin prevents the muscles from contracting and helps them relax.

TMJ/TMD Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton
TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

How Does Botox Work?

TMD/TMJ Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

Botox is a non-surgical approach used to treat TMD, specifically the grinding and clenching (bruxism) that leads to TMD. Clenching and grinding are commonly caused by stress, although they can result from certain medications, smoking, alcohol, or caffeine. During the daytime, you can often catch yourself and relax your muscles to release the clenching and/or stop the grinding. However, bruxism often takes place at night when you have no control. The grinding and clenching results in your TMJ undergoing unnecessary stress and becoming irritated and inflamed, which leads to TMD and the associated symptoms.

A series of Botox injections into the jaw muscles can be a successful treatment option for alleviating symptoms of TMD by weakening and relaxing the muscles used when you grind or clench your teeth. Your Strathcona Dental Clinic dentist administers a series of targeted injections, which weaken or relax the muscles that would otherwise cause clenching and grinding. As a result, you place less stress on your jaw, and the tension decreases. Botox injections can often lead to a significant decrease in symptoms of bruxism. The positive effects of Botox last many months and can even be permanent.

Benefits of Botox for TMD

TMJ/TMD Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

There are several benefits of using Botox to treat your TMD:

  • Treatment is non-invasive and non-surgical
  • Pain and other TMD symptoms decrease
  • There is no downtime involved with using Botox as a treatment
  • Injections do not interfere with normal mouth functions, such as eating and talking.
  • Results last several months and can even be permanent.
  • Botox can also be used if you do not have TMD, but you still clench and grind your teeth. This can put an end to other issues caused by bruxism, such as excessive wear on your teeth.

In some people, excessive clenching and teeth grinding can often lead to a buildup of the masseter muscle, which can create a widening of your jawline. In women, this can lead to a more masculine facial shape. Botox may help reduce the size of the muscle mass and decrease the square shape of the jawline and may be able to restore a more feminine jawline.

TMJ/TMD Therapy | Strathcona Dental Clinic | General & Family Dentist | South Edmonton

At Strathcona Dental Clinic, we have the experience to help you deal with your TMD. Nightguards and Botox can be highly effective treatment options that allow you to get back to your normal life. If you are experiencing jaw pain, accompanied by other symptoms of TMD, do not hesitate to call us at (780) 433-1154 so we can help you today!

We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Strathcona Dental Clinic at (780) 433-1154 to set up your TMJ/TMD Therapy appointment today!