SW Edmonton TMJ Therapy

Do you suffer from frequent headaches or neck pain, have trouble opening and closing your mouth when speaking or eating, have noticed that your jaw clicks or pops, and/or experience radiating pain in your jaw? If your answer is yes, you might be suffering from TMJ pain, also known as Temporomandibular Dysfunction or “TMD.” Ellwood Dental understands that the chronic discomfort from TMJ pain can negatively affect your life. As such, we provide safe and effective treatment options for those who suffer from TMJ pain. Ellwood Dental is committed to helping ease your TMJ pain and discomfort and help you on your way to better overall health and wellness.

The TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull on both sides of your head. It allows you to open and close your mouth, as well as move your jaw from side to side. For many people, the TMJ generally works well and causes no issues. For some people however, problems arise with the TMJ, resulting in extreme pain that can affect overall health.

Temporomandibular Disorders, or TMD, are problems associated with the movement of the jaw and pain in and around the jaw. When the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) becomes stressed and overworked, it can lead to TMD. Bruxism, the most common form of TMD, presents as grinding, gnashing, or clenching of the teeth.

• Head, neck, face, jaw, or shoulder pain or discomfort
• Difficulty opening or closing your mouth, or your jaw (for some, their jaws may become locked in the open or closed position)
• Worn enamel and dentine and teeth that are chipped, flattened, fractured, or loose
• Increased tooth sensitivity or tooth pain
• Tired or tight jaw muscles
• Headaches or migraines
• A popping or grating sound in the jaw joints
• Ear issues or hearing difficulties, including ringing in your ears
• Changes and damage to cheeks and tongue
• Sleep disruption and associated fatigue

While mild TMD/Bruxism often does not require treatment, some people experience severe and frequent symptoms such as jaw pain, headaches, and damaged teeth. For those requiring treatment for TMD, Ellwood Dental is here to help!

With such a wide variety of symptoms associated with TMD, discovering the proper treatment can be complicated. It often involves several health care professionals, including, but not limited to TMD-trained dentists, orthodontists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists. With a proper diagnosis, Ellwood Dental may be able to determine the root cause of your problem and work with you to come up with a personalized plan to meet your specific needs. The goal is to help relieve your pain and discomfort, as well as address any damage associated with your TMD. Our Ellwood Dental team is trained to provide long-term solutions for TMJ/TMD.

Ellwood Dental is pleased to offer personalized TMJ appliances (such as nightguards) that can be used to help support your jaw joint, muscles, and teeth in a beneficial position, ultimately helping to ease the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ pain. These custom appliances are made from plastic and are worn over the teeth at night to help realign your jaw and help ease the pain associated with any misalignment. TMJ appliances also help to protect your teeth from the premature wear and tear resulting from the pressure of tooth grinding. The appliance is designed to treat bruxism before there is permanent and severe damage to the teeth, while also helping to decrease symptoms of headaches and pain in the head, neck, arm, shoulder and back regions by shutting the muscle activity off, allowing the overworked muscles to relax.