Trusted jaw pain relief in Dunedin
You don’t need a serious injury to suffer serious jaw pain. Teeth grinding or clenching just from daily stress can cause painful or debilitating jaw pain that can significantly impair one’s quality of life. Left untreated, temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD, can cause permanent damage to one’s jaw. Fortunately, there are treatments available that can help alleviate symptoms and provide relief. Bayshore Family Dental offers advanced diagnostics and treatments such as night guards, pain relief injections, and TMD therapy to reduce pain and improve jaw function for lasting relief.
What Us TMJ/TMD?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that connects the upper and lower jaw to the skull. Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD, is a blanket term used to describe issues affecting this joint that result in pain or misalignment. Common causes of TMD are teeth grinding or clenching during sleep, a misaligned bite, or trauma suffered to the jaw. It can affect your range of motion when opening or closing your mouth, or cause pain in the jaw and surrounding muscles. Left untreated, TMD can further disrupt your bite alignment and result in costly procedures to fix. Chronic pain and inflammation may affect your ability to comfortably eat and sleep, leading to fatigue or depression. At Bayshore Family Dental, we are committed to providing personalized care and treatment options to help our patients find lasting relief.
Symptoms of TMJ/TMD
TMD caused by a misaligned jaw or bruxism might just be small pain points to begin with, but can quickly become more severe if left untreated. It’s important to recognize signs of teeth grinding or misalignment as soon as possible:
- Chronic pain in the jaw or muscles surrounding it
- Popping or clicking when moving the jaw
- A decreased range of motion to open the mouth
- Waking up with headaches or facial pain
- Ear ringing or tinnitus
- Worn down, sensitive teeth
TMJ/TMD Treatments
With early detection and guidance, Bayshore Family Dental can provide a treatment optimized to fix your TMJ pain. For most cases of bruxism, a night guard can be a lifesaver. Dental night guards are custom-fitted mouth guards that provide a thin barrier between the teeth to stop grinding and clenching. In cases where other treatments haven’t been successful or there’s intense pain, we may provide pain relief injections. These allow the jaw muscles to relax and relieve pain caused by excess stress to the joint.
Stop Jaw Pain in its Tracks with the Right Care
TMJ/TMD can be anything from annoying to debilitating. What’s most important is that you receive proper care that’s personalized to you so you can live a comfortable, healthy life. If you’re experiencing signs of TMJ/TMD, set up an appointment with us at Bayshore Family Dental to get care that puts you and your needs first.
