TMD is a group of conditions (temporomandibular disorders) that involve problems with the TMJ and the muscles of the jaw. Clenching and grinding of the teeth can be a significant contributor to TMD and orofacial pain and can cause wear and damage to the teeth. Treatment for TMD and clenching and grinding may involve medications, physical therapy, and the use of a mouthguard or splint, and may also involve surgery in more severe cases.

Headaches, facial pain and difficulty sleeping can be detrimental to your lifestyle as a whole. Simple, everyday things like enjoying your favourite food, listening to music or receiving a good night’s sleep can become almost impossible. This has the potential to negatively impact your work, social life and overall happiness.

What are the causes of TMJ issues & orofacial pain and how can we help?

There is a cascade of events that take place that eventually leads you to have TMJ issues and/or orofacial pain. The pain could be coming from several areas in the head and that is why a team of health professionals in their specialized fields need to perform comprehensive assessments so that a proper diagnosis can be made to treat you appropriately.

These areas consist of the bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, and the cartilage discs (cushion that protects the jawbone from rubbing on the skull bone). Other additional factors include lifestyle factors, breathing capability, nutrition and sleep quality.

A proper dental examination will usually consist of 

• Muscular examination
• TMJ examination
• Dental examination
• A complete medical history screening
• Symptom history assessment

Radiographs or imaging of the head and neck may be referred for if further information is required about the craniofacial structures or TMJs themselves. If sleep-disordered breathing (such as obstructive sleep apnoea) is possible then setup or referral for the appropriate diagnosis may be required.

Our treatment plan may include orthotics or splint therapy which would be custom-made to each personalized case and its purpose/s will be specific to the issues identified. If we suspect treatment is out of our scope, referral to the appropriate specialists will be made to best assist.