If you are experiencing pain in your face, head, neck and/or jaws, you may be suffering from a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Talking, yawning, chewing and a thousand other movements you do every day can only be achieved because of one thing, your Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ).
It is one of the most used joints in your body and is located just in front of your ears and connects your jawbone to your skull. A misaligned jaw can strain jaw and facial muscles and result in recurring headaches, face, neck or shoulder pain. Damage to the jaw from an accident or sporting injury as well as the presence of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the TMJ can also be contributing factors.
Some symptoms may include frequent headaches, pain in your neck, throat, shoulder or your back, clicking, popping or grating sounds in your jaw, tooth sensitivity, sinuses, ringing in the ear, grinding your teeth, dizziness and/ or pain in your jaw muscles, ear or face.
Many people are unaware they grind their teeth, as it mostly occurs during sleep. This puts a lot of pressure on the TMJ, and can also cause fillings to become loose and teeth to fracture in some cases.
To determine correct jaw alignment and eliminate TMJ as being the cause of any pain or discomfort, Healthy Bite Dental can conduct a comprehensive physical examination and oral health assessment. This may also involve taking detailed x-rays and a review your medical history. We will recommend different treatments for you to help alleviate the pain and correct your bite. Your treatment for TMJ may vary from physical therapy, heat and ice therapy, medications to wearing an appliance in your mouth to help when sleeping.