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TMJ/Neuromuscular Dentistry

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Ottawa, Ontario

Neuromuscular dentistry is a field of dentistry dedicated to treating conditions resulting from a misaligned jaw. Improper jaw alignment can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort. Ottawa neuromuscular dentist Dr. Ami Barakat can offer you a variety of treatments to relieve your symptoms and reduce your pain.

What is the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. It helps you perform important daily functions such as chewing, talking, and yawning. The TMJ is one of the most complex joints in your body, and when it gets misaligned, you may develop a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Approximately 5-15% of Americans suffer from TMJ disorders. Causes of this condition include:

  • A bad bite (most common)
  • Arthritis
  • A severe blow to the jaw
  • Grinding your teeth
  • Dislocation of the disk between your jawbone and jaw socket

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

TMJ disorder can lead to a variety of symptoms, such as:

  • Jaw pain
  • Neck, shoulder, and upper back pain
  • Headaches, (including migraines)
  • Ear pain
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Facial pain
  • Clicking, popping, or locking of the jaw
  • Uncomfortable bite
  • Uneven bite
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Tingling fingertips
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Snoring

TMJ Disorder Treatments

Depending on the severity of your condition, Dr. Barakat may recommend a variety of treatments to relieve your pain and symptoms. For mild cases of TMD, simple lifestyle adjustments may help improve your condition. These include eating soft foods to avoid overuse of your jaw muscles, maintaining good jaw posture, performing exercises that will stretch your jaw, and applying heat or ice to the area to relax muscles and reduce pain.

If lifestyle alterations do not provide you with relief from your symptoms, Dr. Barakat may recommend wearing a custom orthotic bite guard to prevent teeth grinding while you sleep. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen may provide you with some relief from your pain as well.

If issues such as missing teeth, crooked teeth, or gaps between your teeth are causing your jaw misalignment, Dr. Barakat may recommend a variety of restorative dental procedures such as orthodontics to improve the condition.

Dentistry at Main uses some of the most advanced neuromuscular dentistry technology available in the treatment of your TMJ disorder. We have a TENS unit which will relax your jaw to place it in its ideal resting position and relieve your pain. We also use state-of-the-art computerized jaw tracking technology, called the K7 system, to scientifically measure the exact movements of your jaw. This tool greatly aids our ability to accurately identify the cause of your condition so that we recommend the ideal treatment to suit your needs.

Please contact our Ottawa neuromuscular dentist today to schedule your free initial consultation. Dentistry at Main serves patients in Ottawa, Ontario.