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TMJ & Bruxism

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Do you wake up with headaches, neck, or shoulder pain? Are your teeth sensitive? Are they starting to crack or look worn down?

You may have problems with TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) or bruxism(teeth grinding or clenching).

TMJ disorders affect millions and are much more commonly diagnosed in women, due to hormone fluctuations. These disorders can be painful and, in some cases, may seriously affect your quality of life.

Often, TMJ disorders prevent patients from opening their mouths fully, making dental exams and oral hygiene difficult. Such severe symptoms put your oral health at risk.

Signs of TMJ Disorders

While the signs of TMJ can vary dramatically from person to person, some of them may include:

Clicking or popping in your jaw joints
Being unable to open or close your mouth fully
Your teeth not coming together completely
Pain in your jaw joints
Facial, neck or shoulder pain
Headaches or migraines
Grinding and clenching your teeth
Tooth sensitivity
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Worn or shortened teeth

What Causes TMJ Disorders?

Jaw problems can sometimes be caused by accident, trauma or sporting injuries. It is also common for the disorder to have no definite cause.

How your teeth come together (your occlusion) can play a role in TMJ and may cause dysfunction in your jaw joints. Because more women are diagnosed with TMJ disorders, scientists are considering a link between TMJ disorders and hormones.

How Are TMJ Disorders Treated?

How TMJ is treated depends on the type and severity of your symptoms. Treatment can include splint therapy, surgery, neuromuscular treatments, deprogrammers or muscle relaxers.

Most cases of TMJ can be treated without surgery, though it may be necessary for severe cases.

Bruxism (Tooth Grinding and Clenching)

Bruxism is excessively clenching or grinding your teeth. While bruxism is very common, symptoms can be severe and include tooth sensitivity, worn teeth and headaches.

Clenching and grinding occur more commonly while you are sleeping but can also occur during the day. Treatment for bruxism usually involves creating a night guard or splint to protect your teeth from damage.

If you experience the warning signs of a TMJ disorder or bruxism, call our clinic to arrange an evaluation. We will be able to recommend treatment to keep you comfortable and protect your teeth from damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to care for your splint

Wearing an occlusal splint will help to resolve the symptoms of TMD and reduce the stress placed on the teeth and muscles from grinding (bruxing) and clenching. This will help to prevent tooth wear and cracks.

Wear your splint every night for at least 2 weeks to get used to the feel of it. For grinding and clenching you will get the most benefit from wearing your splint every night. For TMD sufferers it is likely that it will take weeks to months of wear to relieve your symptoms. You will be directed by your dentist as to when you should return for adjustments.

Excess saliva initially is normal and this will resolve.
Your bite may feel unusual when you remove your splint - this is normal and will only last a few minutes.
Dropping your splint may cause it to break.
Ensure your teeth are brushed prior to wearing your splint overnight.
Clean your splint with soft toothbrush and toothpaste, cold water only.

TMD sufferers: avoid eating hard, chewy foods that require you to open wide to bite into (ie. Apples, burgers). Soft foods that require less force during chewing will be most beneficial. Avoid yawning and holding your jaw open for long periods of time.

For pain relief: Heat packs applied over the sides of the face for periods of 15-20mins as required. Analgesia may be prescribed for you if necessary.

Meet Our Doctor:

Dr Nick Georgiou BDS (Queensland)
Dentist

Dr Nick started practising at Welsford Dental after completing his dental degree at University of QLD in 1999. Since then he has gained much experience in all facets of dentistry and loves to provide dental treatment in a friendly and gentle manner. Having been born and bred in Shepparton - he’s a true local. Nick loves nothing more than a good yarn about the footy or the latest news headlines and as a Collingwood supporter you can be reassured that yes he has ALL his teeth and wants to ensure ...