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TMJ / Nightguards

tmj headache treatment ottawa ontario

Your bite refers to the alignment of your upper and lower teeth when they meet to cut through or chew food. When your bite is "off," your teeth may appear crooked or protruding. Usually, however, misaligned teeth look perfectly normal to you and everyone else-except your dentist!

A "bad bite" is also known as malocclusion, irregular bite, cross bite or overbite. Whatever it's called, a bad bite can cause a lot of pain and other problems-and not just in the mouth.

Bad bites cause problems because, when some of the teeth are too far forward or backward, or if some of the teeth are too tall or short, the jaw muscles will apply extra pressure to compensate for the poor alignment. Basically, your body will work overtime to enable you to chew. This puts great stress on the surface of the teeth-leading to cracks, chips and loosening-and on the jaw muscles themselves.

Eventually, the muscle strain extends to other areas of the face, such as the temporomandibular joint. This joint is located in front of the ear and marks the point where the upper and lower jaws meet. When the upper and lower teeth do not align properly, the muscles and the joints in the TMJ area are likewise misaligned, leading to temporomandibular joint disorder-otherwise known as TMJ.

Symptoms of bad bite, and TMJ disorder, may include:

  • Unexplained loose teeth
  • Pain in multiple teeth or the jaw joint
  • Limited jaw movement
  • Cracked, chipped or broken dental restorations
  • Headache-especially when opening and closing your jaw
  • Ear pain-in front of or below the ear, with no other signs of ear infection
  • Noises "in your head" - grinding, crunching, or popping sounds
  • A lack of balance or mild dizziness
  • Congested or clogged ears
  • Ringing in the ear

Do you have dental or facial pain? It may stem from a bad bite.

Migraines / Headache Treatment

Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of TMJ. Forty million Americans who suffer from headaches may have been improperly diagnosed. "Migraines", tension headaches, and sometimes even sinus headaches are diagnosed based on subjective symptoms reported by the patient, sometimes leading to incorrect diagnosis and treatment.

We don't think a headache is something anyone should have to live with. If you have been told that your headache is simply the result of stress or sinus pressure, or that you need pain medications, talk to us. While stress or sinus congestion may contribute to your pain, it may not be your only issue. We look at your overall health and your sleep and breathing patterns to get to the root of your pain and help you find true and lasting relief. Let us help you stop the pain and begin to live again.

Occlusal Plate or Night Guard

An Occlusal Plate is an acrylic tray that is worn during the day or night, which will stop the upper teeth from being in contact with the lower ones. It is a support device for the people who suffer from bruxism (teeth clenching and/or grinding of teeth) or people with TMJ problems (articulation problems).

tmj headache treatment ottawa ontario

The functions of an Occlusal Plate:

  • To absorb some of the forces of bruxism and clenching
  • To relax the muscles of the jaw and to ease the tension
  • To relieve the jaw joints (TMJ) and reduce pain
  • To limit the progression of tooth decay by bruxism, and supporting bone
  • Reduces gingival recession

Contact us today for a free consultation!