TMJ Treatment – Ottawa, ON

Relief for Jaw Pain

Your jaw joint – also known as the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ – is very complex since it needs to allow your mandible to move in various directions. Sometimes jaw injury, arthritis, and other issues can lead to problems with the TMJ. This is known as a TMJ disorder, and it can cause significant pain in your jaw and the rest of your face. Our team at Smyth Dental Centre has multiple ways to address TMJ disorder, so give us a call if you think your jaw joint needs attention from a professional.

Why Choose Smyth Dental Centre for TMJ Therapy?

  • Customized Occlusal Splints
  • BOTOX Injections Available
  • Bilingual Team Members

What are the Symptoms of TMJ Disorder?

TMJ disorder most commonly occurs between the ages of 20 to 40, but it can affect anyone at any age. Some common symptoms that might mean you have a TMJ disorder include:

  • Pain in your jaw as well as your face, neck, or shoulders.
  • Headaches and earaches.
  • Having trouble opening your mouth all the way.
  • Hearing a clicking or popping sound when you move your jaw.
  • Having trouble chewing.
  • Experiencing ringing in your ears.
  • Teeth that no longer fit together the way they should.

TMJ Treatment Options

There are different types of TMJ disorder, so we’ll need to examine your jaw to get a feel for the situation. We’ll explain our findings to you and give you our treatment recommendations, which may involve the following.

  • Occlusal Splints – Oftentimes, a TMJ disorder can be treated with a splint designed to be worn over your teeth. The splint can keep the lower jaw in a position that allows the muscles and ligaments of the TMJ to rest. Also, wearing a splint helps protect your teeth and jaws from bruxism, one of the main causes of TMJ-related pain.
  • Occlusal Adjustments – Occlusal adjustment is a procedure that corrects the way your teeth come together. For example, certain teeth might need to be slightly reshaped by removing small amounts of enamel. After the necessary adjustments are made, your TMJ should be able to reach its proper resting position, and the pain will go away on its own afterward.
  • BOTOX Injections – BOTOX is a lesser-known way to treat TMJ disorder. Simply put, injecting BOTOX into your jaw muscles helps them relax, which can reduce your pain and improve your ability to move your mouth. By itself, BOTOX typically isn’t a permanent solution; it’s normally used along with other types of treatment.