TMJ FAQs

Delta Neuromuscular Dentists

How do I know if I have TMJ?

There are many possible symptoms of TMJ including:

  • Pain in the jaw and face
  • Clicking of the jaw
  • Limited range of jaw motion
  • Headaches and neck aches
  • Difficulty biting and chewing
  • Swallowing problems
  • Postural problems
  • Excessive snoring
  • Sleep apnea (periods of non-breathing)
  • Ear congestion
  • Sensitivity in the teeth to heat and cold
  • Loose teeth
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Jaw clenching and teeth grinding
  • Dizziness
  • Nervousness and insomnia

If you are suffering from these or other symptoms that you think may be associated with TMJ, call or email our Neuromuscular dentists at our Delta, BC office today to schedule your comprehensive professional consultation.

What are the causes of TMJ?

TMJ is caused by misaligned teeth, due either to natural causes or to poorly done dental work. When your bite doesn’t close correctly, the temporomandibular joints (that connect your upper and lower jaws) try to correct it. This creates chronic strain and stress in the area of the temples. Since there are three large nerves running through the temples, across the face,  and down the neck to the shoulders, pain can be felt in all these areas.

Is TMJ treatable?

Yes. TMJ can be corrected, and its effects halted or reversed, by realigning your bite, so that your jaw moves correctly.

What are my treatment options?

We offer a range of options for treatment of TMJ, depending on  your specific problems and your individual needs.

  • TENS treatment
    The TENS unit delivers mild electrical stimulation via patches which we’ll place strategically on the face and neck areas. You can lean back comfortably and read or snooze. After about a half-hour, your jaw will be relaxed and pain will have gone. This new relaxed position of the jaw gives your neuromuscular dentist a template, or goal, for how to modify your bite so that the symptoms won’t return.
  • An orthotic
    An orthotic is a custom made appliance fabricated of plastic that can be worn over the teeth to maintain the neuromuscularly derived bite position. At this point, nothing is done to permanently alter your teeth or your bite. You typically wear this plastic appliance for a prescribed period of time to verify that this new jaw position solves or reduces the problem. If it does, it has proven that the imperfect bite was the cause of the problem and you may elect to go on and have your teeth treated to permanently maintain that new bite position. If symptoms are not substantially alleviated, the bite position is most likely not the cause of the problem. Your natural bite has not been altered and other causes may then be further explored. (Although this latter circumstance is possible, it is not likely since the dentist will only proceed with an orthotic if there are strong indications that the bite is a major factor in your problem.)

    Some of these options may include dental treatment to permanently alter your bite to the new position, fabrication of a more permanent type of orthotic, or using a TENS device to relax the muscles at those times that headaches are most bothersome.

    For more information on TMJ/TMD, click here.

    For more information on headaches and your bite, click here

  • Tooth realignment
    After the orthotic proves that the bite was the cause of the problem, we can go ahead and plan specific treatments to re-align your teeth permanently. A full mouth reconstruction could be done in a series of visits. Or perhaps less work might be needed.

Contact us today for an initial consultation! There’s no need for you to continue suffering these symptoms. We can do a thorough examination, review your dental history, and start making life more comfortable for you.