Have you ever felt a clicking sound from your upper jaw while yawning or laughing? Yes, this can happen to anyone. TMJ issues are quite normal nowadays, our proficient Dr. Sobhi and her specialized team have the expertise to treat all the TMJ disorders. At Eglinton Dental Clinic we offer all kinds of dental services including restoring your TMJ-related issues. Our dentists make sure that no TMJ or dental issue will stop you from laughing or yawning. 

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, a pivot that joins the jaw to the temporal bones of the skull. It helps to move your jaw up and down and side to side. The dentists at the Eglinton Dental Clinic explain that TMJ helps you while talking, chewing, and yawning. 

The issues with your jaw and the muscles of your face are known as (TMDs). Dentists may give this disorder another name TMJ dysfunction. Anyone can have this disorder and you can be one of those. Let’s get more information about this so that you can get it treated as early as possible.

According to our dentists and Healthcare professionals, there are the following types of tmds:

• Jaw joints dysfunction 
• Dysfunction of chewing muscles.
• TMD leading to headache.

TMJ disorders have some of the following symptoms that vary extensively and may include jaw pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, spasms in the jaw, clicking sound from the jaw, headaches, and problems while closing and opening the mouth. Other symptoms may include earache, toothache, and malocclusion. If you have any of the above symptoms then it’s the best time to visit your dentist at Eglinton Dental Clinic. We believe that all our esteemed clients deserve a bright healthy smile that should not be affected by any kind of TMJ disorder. 

If you think there is a single reason for TMD then that’s not the right answer. Relatively, it can result from many diverse aspects or a blend of issues. The reasons may include the following:

• Trauma to the jaw such as a disordered jaw that is a dental emergency 
• Grinding of teeth 
• Jaw joint arthritis
• Crowded teeth 
• Anxiety or pressure 

• Tearing thread, plastic, or any cloth with teeth 
• Poor position can put additional pressure on your neck and facial muscles
• Munching on pens, pencils, or any hard thing due to anxiety
• Grinding ice or chewing gum for a longer period.
• Daytime teeth grinding or night teeth grinding.
• Sleeping in the wrong position such as lying on the stomach 

The TMJ dysfunction may lead to a variety of difficulties, such as chronic pain, restricted chewing function, and wear or tear. Our specialist dentists hold expertise in diagnosing and treating the disorders related to TMJ. 

When you visit Eglinton Dental Clinic, our dentist will discuss your symptoms and inspect your jaw. Remember that visiting a general dentist regularly can save you from many dental and jaw-related issues. For the diagnosis of TMD, our dental team will follow below given steps:

• Extraoral examination of the jaw 
• During the EO examination the dentists will instruct you to open and close your mouth
• Throughout the opening and closing the dentist will detect the range of motion in your jaw
• The dentist will then apply pressure on areas around your jaw to detect spots of pain or distress

After suspecting TMD the dentist may advise getting the following procedures done:

• Dental X-rays of teeth and jaw
• CT scan that will give an image of the bones included in the joint
• MRI that will show any issues in the adjacent soft tissue

TMJ arthroscopy is a procedure that involves the insertion of a small thin tube into the joint space. Along with it, a minor camera is then injected to see the area. This process helps the dentists to provide diagnosis. 

Our expert Dr Sobhi and her team know what’s best for you. The treatment plan is customized for everyone, it varies from person to person. The management of the disorder also depends on the primary reason and the intensity of your pain. The dental team in our clinic prefers to try noninvasive choices initially, like medicines or nonsurgical treatments. In case, the symptoms don’t progress, the dentist may recommend a jaw surgery. 

Medication: Various kinds of medications are available over the counter. Following is some of the medications that may help you control the TMJ symptoms. 

• Acetaminophen
• Nsaids such as naproxen 
• Muscle relaxants 

Remember to always discuss your symptoms with our expert dentists so that you can get the best treatment at the technologically advanced dental practice. 

               Nonsurgical TMJ treatments: some of the non-surgical TMJ treatments include the following

• Mouth guards which are recommended by our dentists and our dental technician fabricates them at the dental lab. These Dental appliances are also known as oral splints. Dental appliances put your jaw in a more satisfactory position or support to diminish the impact of grinding. If you want to get a mouth guard then this is the best time to get a custom mouthguard from Eglinton Dental Clinic
• Physical therapy will give your jaw flexibility and it will also support the muscles around your jaw joints.
• Dry needling which is also known as trigger point injections 
• Ultrasound therapy 
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
• Posture improvement 

In some cases, the medicines and other therapies might not work, if this also happens to you then our experts might suggest surgical treatment. The following are some types of surgical treatment you might be advised:

• Arthrocentesis
• TMJ arthroscopy
• Open-joint surgery

Some TMJ specialists who treat TMD are oral surgeons, Orthodontists, Prosthodontists, and general dentists. 

• Decrease excessive use of jaw muscles
• Stretch and massage the jaw area
• Apply heat towels to the areas near the jaw
• Use a mouth guard at night for teeth-grinding 
• Use a Sports guard while playing contact sports.
• Focus on your posture
• Meditate or yoga 
• Apply stress-lessening methods