Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) is a disorder affecting the facial muscles and joints. It is mostly related to muscular problems due to the bite.
When these joints and muscles aren’t working as they should, they can cause severe headaches, muscular pain that can travel down to the neck and shoulders, pain while chewing and difficulty in opening and closing the mouth,
How do we treat it differently?
Some dental professionals might not associate the pain with the Temporomandibular system but rather with the teeth themselves, resulting in a misdiagnosis. So, the teeth are treated with root canals, crowns or fillings but the root of the problem is not being treated, which most of the time is the bite.
We focus on getting the correct diagnosis, as we believe the root of the problem must be looked at before any treatment can be decided upon.
One of our main diagnostic tools is a KOIS appliance, which is a transparent device that fits over the front teeth. The appliance relaxes the muscles, relieving the stress on the teeth and joints and offering almost immediate pain relief.
Once this is achieved, we work on figuring out the diagnosis and the treatment.
Make an appointment now if your jaw hurts during chewing or if you get frequent headaches!
