SmileCode Dental is pleased to offer treatment options to help protect your teeth from grinding and clenching and help alleviate the associated pain and discomfort resulting from it. Call SmileCode Dental today to see how we can help.
Jaw Pain, Bruxism & TMJ
Your North Calgary Choice for Jaw Pain, Bruxism and TMJ Treatment!
What is Bruxism?
Simply put, bruxism is excessive teeth grinding and/or jaw clenching. If this occurs on a regular basis, it can lead to teeth becoming damaged, as well as other oral problems like myofascial muscle pain and headaches. It is one of the most common sleep disorders out there. Oftentimes, bruxism can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), so managing bruxism can help prevent TMJ.
What is TMD? Temporo Mandibular Disorders
TMJ is a painful condition that occurs when the jaw joint is misaligned. If your upper and lower teeth do not close together properly, your muscles may reposition the temporomandibular joints out of their sockets in order to force your teeth together. This misalignment can lead to TMJ disorders. Oftentimes, people with misaligned jaws suffer from bruxism. The symptoms of bruxism and TMJ are very similar, and include jaw, neck and face pain, severe and frequent headaches, difficulty opening or closing your mouth, and pain in and around your ear.
What are the symptoms of Bruxism and TMD?
- Severe and frequent headaches
- Pain or tenderness of your jaw, neck, or face
- Difficult opening or closing your mouth
- Pain in and around your ear
- Toothaches
- Sensitivity to hot and cold caused by the weakened tooth enamel resulting from tooth grinding
Treatment for Bruxism, TMJ, TMD, and Jaw Pain
If you suffer from bruxism, it is important to manage or treat the condition in order to prevent jaw pain and TMJ from developing. There is no single cure for bruxism, but options exist to relieve symptoms. The most common treatment option is a mouth guard or a splint. While these do not necessarily cure bruxism, they can prevent or correct the wear to your teeth caused by it.
Mouth Guards and Splints as Treatment
Mouth Guards are custom-made Thermoplastic aligners that fit over your upper or lower teeth. Sleeping with a mouthguard can help to minimize the abrasion action of tooth surfaces during sleep, by reestablishing natural space between your upper and lower teeth and providing a barrier of defense. Essentially a mouthguard protects your teeth from wear and tear. The device protects the teeth because the device wears down instead of the teeth themselves. Rather than simply protecting your teeth from the effects of grinding as a mouth guard does, a splint holds your teeth together to prevent harmful movement. Wearing a splint can help alleviate the pain and damage that bruxism can cause, by preventing unwanted movement of your teeth and jaw by stabilizing the jaw.
Many people who suffer from bruxism, TMJ, or jaw pain, find that mouth guard and splint therapy are helpful for treating pain and muscle tension, as well as protecting their teeth. Call SmileCode Dental today to see if you might benefit from a mouth guard or splint.
We look forward to hearing from you soon. Call SmileCode Dental at
(403) 453-4557to book a Bruxism or TMJ appointment today!
SmileCode Dental
#220, 251 Sage Valley Common, NW
Calgary, AB
T3R 1T8 Canada
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