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Teeth Grinding & TMJ Appliances

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TMJ Disorder or TMD is caused by the improper function of the temporomandibular joint.

This is the socket and ball mechanism that enables your jaw to open and close comfortably. This is involved in speaking and chewing and is a necessary movement for the enjoyment of everyday life.

If you experience pain in the jaw then it’s possible that you have TMD and we recommend visiting Endeavour Hills Dental Clinic for a thorough assessment of your condition.

TMJ Disorder can be signified by a range of symptoms.

These symptoms can include:

Tooth sensitivity
Headaches and Migraines
Aching jaw
Hearing Loss
Bruxism (grinding teeth during sleep)
Damaged and worn down teeth
Clicking or popping of your jaw
Jaw stiffness

If you experience any of these symptoms please book an appointment with Endeavour Hills Dental Clinic so that we can create a treatment plan to improve your jaw function.

Restore Your Jaw Function.

TMJ Disorder Treatment

In our Melbourne dental practice, we can conservatively treat TMJ pain or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) with muscle relaxing injectables, in conjunction with bite splints.

We will commence by taking a full mouth x-ray(OPG), palpating the area, muscle-relaxing and enquiring about a comprehensive health history as well as a summary of your lifestyle habits.

Muscle Relaxants

Muscle-relaxing injectables have traditionally been used for cosmetic anti-wrinkle treatment, but have been found to be a highly effective and safe way to treat TMJ/TMD disorder. This is because the injectable numbs the nerve receptors in the muscles which initiate movement and contractions. Over-active muscle contraction or overuse due to stress and bruxism is a common cause of TMD/TMJ Disorder. This is why we recommend muscle relaxants as a way to overcome pain in the jaw. This treatment will weaken the targeted muscles, whilst leaving enough strength for normal use which means that your chewing and speaking function will not be affected. This treatment can relieve the side effects of TMD such as tooth grinding and clenching.

Muscle relaxants usually last approximately 4 months and offer significant improvement when it comes to the comfort of your jaw. Most people find that this length of time makes a big difference to the way they feel every day and their quality of life.

Bite Splints

A bite splint will be worn while you sleep and will be specifically designed to relieve stress put on your TMJ and decrease the frequency with which you grind your teeth. They can either cover the middle teeth or the outermost teeth at the back of the mouth. The two sides will generally be connected with a metal wire for easy placement and removal.

Both of these treatments work together to improve symptoms of TMD which includes reducing pain and symptoms such as bruxism which can also result in weakened enamel and severely damaged teeth.

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