High River TMJ Therapy

If you experience pain when opening or closing your mouth, or moving your mouth from side to side, you might be dealing with Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) dysfunction. At Highwood Dental, we are pleased to offer targeted and well-tested TMJ therapies to provide long-lasting relief.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw to your skull and enables you to open and close your mouth, as well as move your jaw from side to side. While the TMJ works well for most people, others may suffer issues with the joint, which can cause severe pain and impact overall health. TMJ dysfunction can cause symptoms like neck and shoulder pain, ear ringing, hearing loss, fatigue, ringing in your ears, popping or grating noises in your jaw joints, jaw and face pain, grinding of teeth and chronic headaches in your temples or above your eyes. TMJ can have multiple causes, such as an injury to the jaw or head, arthritis, jaw alignment issues, teeth grinding or clenching (called Bruxism) or stress, which can all cause muscle tension and jaw clenching. Uncovering the root cause and arriving at a clear and accurate diagnosis is the critical first step toward alleviating the symptoms.

• Tired or tight jaw muscles
• Chronic fatigue
• Sleep disruption
• Discomfort in your head, jaw, neck, ace, back or shoulders
• Ear pain, hearing issues or ringing in your ears
• Teeth that are fractured, chipped, loose or flattened
• Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw, which may be loud enough to wake up your sleeping partner
• Difficulty opening or closing your mouth, or your jaw may lock, preventing any motion
• Enamel that is worn
• Damages from chewing or biting the inside of the cheek
• popping or grating sounds in your jaw joints
• Chronic migraines or headaches
• Increased tooth sensitivity or tooth pain

There are often multiple causes of TMJ symptoms, which means there is not a “set” way of treating symptoms. That said, Highwood Dental will carefully evaluate your symptoms and concerns to come up with a personalized treatment plan. Treatment will often include a combination of medication, lifestyle change and physiotherapy. Depending on the underlying problem, we may bring together a team of other professionals, including chiropractors, cranio/mandibular specialists or massage therapists who will all work together to bring you relief and ensure a comprehensive approach to your care. In some severe cases, injections or surgery might be necessary.