Kingsland Family Dental: Your SW Calgary Choice for TMJ Treatments
Kingsland Family Dental understands the significant impact Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD) can have on your daily life. That’s why we are committed to offering effective and safe treatment options to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ. If you are experiencing symptoms such as chronic neck pain, headaches, difficulty opening or closing your mouth, jaw popping or clicking, or radiating pain in your jaw, you may be dealing with TMJ pain or TMD. Our dedicated team is here to help relieve your TMD symptoms and support you in achieving better overall health and well-being.
What is TMJ/TMD?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw to both sides of your skull, allowing your mouth to open and close and your jaw to move from side to side. While TMJ functions smoothly for most individuals, some may experience dysfunction, leading to pain that affects their overall health. This condition is referred to as Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD).
TMD encompasses a range of disorders that affect the jaw joint and muscles controlling jaw movement. Stress, jaw overuse, or trauma to the head, neck, or jaw can contribute to TMD. A common cause of TMD is bruxism, which involves teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Bruxism can lead to discomfort, headaches, tooth damage, and further exacerbate TMJ pain, affecting your overall well-being.
Symptoms of TMD
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD):
- Chronic fatigue
- Popping or grating sounds in your jaw joints
- Cheek biting or damage from chewing
- Discomfort in your head, jaw, neck, face, back, or shoulders
- Ear pain, hearing difficulties, or ringing in your ears
- Worn tooth enamel
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth, or jaw-locking
- Clenching or grinding teeth
- Chronic migraines or headaches
- Sleep disruptions
- Teeth that are fractured, chipped, or loose
- Tired or tight jaw muscles
- Increased tooth sensitivity or tooth pain
Treatments for TMD
At Kingsland Family Dental, we offer personalized treatment options for TMD based on your unique needs. Using advanced tools like Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA), we assess the health of your TMJ, enabling us to recommend the most effective treatments. For many patients, this includes custom-made night guards to alleviate discomfort caused by teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Together, JVA and night guards provide comprehensive care to relieve pain and restore function.
What is Joint Vibration Analysis & How Does it Work?
With over 25 years of experience treating TMJ disorders, Kingsland Family Dental uses Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA) by Bioresearch to provide a clear understanding of your TMJ’s health. JVA is a modern, non-invasive diagnostic tool that allows us to conduct a thorough analysis of your jaw and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
JVA works by placing sensors over the jaw joints to detect vibrations during jaw movement. Healthy TMJs produce little to no vibration, while dysfunctional joints, such as those with disc displacement or degeneration, generate distinct vibration patterns. These vibrations are recorded and analyzed by specialized software, allowing us to identify irregularities and create an accurate, customized treatment plan for your specific needs.
JVA offers a clear picture of your TMJ’s health, enabling us to recommend the most effective treatments tailored to your condition. Fast, targeted, and efficient, JVA is a vital tool in diagnosing TMJ disorders and guiding dental care.
Custom Night Guards for TMJ-Related Bruxism
At Kingsland Family Dental, we understand the impact bruxism can have on both your oral and overall health. To help alleviate its effects, we offer custom-made night guards. These removable appliances fit snugly over your upper or lower teeth, preventing contact and reducing pressure on your TMJ. This helps minimize discomfort, jaw pain, and headaches associated with bruxism.
Night guards also protect your teeth from enamel erosion and damage caused by grinding. While they don’t address the root cause of bruxism, they provide essential protection, safeguarding your dental health and improving overall comfort.
Kingsland Family Dental is pleased to offer Joint Vibration Analysis technology to help diagnose and treat TMJ effectively. If you are experiencing frequent jaw pain, headaches, or any other symptoms of TMD, or if you have any questions about TMJ treatment options, please call our dedicated team at 403-255-1591. We look forward to assisting you!