Neuromuscular Dentistry TMJ & TMD in Delta, BC

Do you suffer from headaches? Do you hear popping or clicking sounds when you move your jaw?

Temporomandibular disorder (TMJ/TMD) is a general name for a variety of symptoms which can have a variety of causes. It’s often known as TMJ/TMD, for Temporomandibular Joint (Syndrome) and is a very common problem in the field of Neuromuscular Dentistry.

Understanding TMJ/TMD

Many factors can cause TMJ/TMD but a malocclusion (a bad bite) is the most common cause. TMJ/TMD is usually treated with anti-inflammatory drugs and pain medication. Our dentists will investigate your neuromuscular occlusion – the relationship between your teeth, muscles and jaw joints – to determine if a malocclusion could be causing your TMJ/TMD and take necessary steps to alleviate your TMJ/TMD.

The Jaw Joint

The lower jaw is attached to the skull near the temples, and when it closes, the teeth should meet smoothly, with an even pressure and no discomfort. If teeth are misaligned and the jaw closes in an unstable or uncomfortable way (known as malocclusion), the muscles, tendons and ligaments related to the jaw joint become strained.

Since we open and close our jaw extremely often every day, this strain becomes chronic and inflammation builds up. There are three major nerves running through this area and when the inflammation puts pressure on them, we feel pain in the face, head, neck, and/or shoulder.

Fortunately, there are solutions to TMJ / TMD, both prevention and treatment of existing problems and these solutions are available at our office.