Centreville Dental - Waterdown

TMJ Therapy in Waterdown

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint and TMD stands for Temporomandibular Disorder. TMJ and TMD are both often used to describe the conditions affecting the muscles, nerves and joints of the jaw.
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Jaw pain is not normal

If jaw pain is part of your everyday life, it may seem normal to you. The truth is, jaw pain is far from normal and may be a symptom of a condition called TMD from one or both of your TMJs. Those are the joints of your lower jaw, called TemporoMandibular Joints. When disease or misalignment occurs, the TMJ and surrounding area becomes inflamed — which is what causes pain and other symptoms.

    What are the signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)?
  • Headaches
  • Earaches, tenderness around the ear
  • Face or jaw pain and tenderness
  • Muscle pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Clicking, popping, or grinding jaw
  • Difficulty chewing, yawning or opening your mouth

How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?

Diagnosis

Treatment of TMD begins with a comprehensive clinical examination, to check your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your appointment, we will check for pain and tenderness and listen for clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If the disorder is diagnosed, a bite splint or night guard is often recommended as the initial treatment.

Treatment and Relief

Our treatment application involves bite splints, which are custom-created plastic mouthpieces, designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These type of devices prevent the grinding and clenching that often causes or worsens TMD. The splint also realigns the jaw, removing stress on the surrounding area.

Alternative Treatment Options

If a misaligned bite or missing teeth are the cause of your symptoms, we may recommend orthodontics or restorative dental work. If your bite is placing undue pressure on the TMJ’s, we may suggest reshaping individual teeth to redistribute the bite force evenly.

Contact us today

to schedule an initial consultation & exam.

Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.

Frequently Asked Questions

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint. If this joint becomes misaligned or inflamed we refer to that as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD for short.
Signs or symptoms of TMD include pain and tenderness in or around the ear, the jaw joint, or the muscles of the jaw, face or temples. Other symptoms are problems opening or closing your mouth, and a clicking, popping, crunching or grinding noise when you chew, yawn or open your mouth. TMDs may be linked with neck pain and headaches.
TMD is caused by a combination of factors like jaw injuries and joint disease, such as arthritis. It’s believed that bruxism (tooth clenching or grinding) and head or neck muscle tension may make TMD symptoms worse. Stress is also a possible factor. However, it is not clear if stress causes TMD or is a result. Other things that may lead to TMDs are partial or full dentures that are not the right fit and certain habits such as fingernail biting and pen or pencil biting. As you can see, there are an array of different causes which makes TMD hard to diagnose. The best way to understand your jaw pain symptoms are to book an appointment.
There are many possible causes of headaches. No doctor will be able to determine the cause of your headache without a physical examination.
Most often, TMJ pain can be treated effectively with non-invasive treatments and therapies. In very rare circumstances, TMD may require surgery. Your health and happiness are both important to us. We will always present you with all of your options, work through the safest and easiest options first, and give you the final decision on what happens next.

Google Verified Patient Reviews

Kim Crichton
2 weeks ago
Best dentist and staff. I use to dread going to the dentist but never do coming here. Everyone is so friendly, and happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have.
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Trish Green
2 weeks ago
Had an appointment today with the hygienist. She was thorough and very detailed in her work. She made me feel comfortable and relaxed. Staff were welcoming and friendly.
More
Chris Prosser
3 weeks ago
This place is wonderful! Dr. Moxey-Hepburn is extremely knowledgeable, and we have been truly amazed by her skill in fixing teeth that we thought were beyond repair! Also, all of the staff is very upbeat, kind, and empathetic. I wouldn't go anywhere else!
More
K Morgan
5 months ago
I've had major dental issues and a debilatating fear of going to the dentist due to previous bad experiences. One of them where I ended up in an ambulance and rushed to the hospital. Dr. Jayde Moxey-Hepburn and her team came highly recommended. I required major dental work and decided to give them a try. The first visit was a complete success so I made an additional appointment to have a tooth cavity repaired. They created a plan of action for the other major dental work to be completed. The big day came. I tried to not let anxiety get the best of me. I had no choice and had to have this work done. I walked into the office and the staff brought me into the dental chair. Dr.Jayde and her staff put me at ease. I was awake during the process, but thankfully don't remember much. The entire process took about two hours. The outcome couldn't have been better. I am very thankful I went to Centreville Dental and would highly recommend them to anyone requiring dental work, especially if you have anxiety about going to the dentist. Thank you so much Dr. Jayde and your team for taking such good care and helping me to get over this fear.
More
M Brown
6 months ago
I am a nervous patient when it comes to the dentist, especially when I need a filling. Freezing has always taken longer than normal to take effect so it’s not always been pleasant. Well, much to my surprise Dr. Moxey-Hepburn was very accommodating, fast, caring and gentle. I didn’t even feel the freezing needles enter my gums. She did excellent work. I can’t say I had a good time since it’s still a dental visit, but I can say I trust this dentist, I know I’m good hands, and it was as good an experience as I could have hoped for. My experience with all the staff here has always been great. My first filling with this doctor solidified the fact I made a good choice in coming here for my dental needs.
More
Kim Crichton
2 weeks ago
Best dentist and staff. I use to dread going to the dentist but never do coming here. Everyone is so friendly, and happy to answer any questions or concerns you might have.
More
Trish Green
2 weeks ago
Had an appointment today with the hygienist. She was thorough and very detailed in her work. She made me feel comfortable and relaxed. Staff were welcoming and friendly.
More
Chris Prosser
3 weeks ago
This place is wonderful! Dr. Moxey-Hepburn is extremely knowledgeable, and we have been truly amazed by her skill in fixing teeth that we thought were beyond repair! Also, all of the staff is very upbeat, kind, and empathetic. I wouldn't go anywhere else!
More
K Morgan
5 months ago
I've had major dental issues and a debilatating fear of going to the dentist due to previous bad experiences. One of them where I ended up in an ambulance and rushed to the hospital. Dr. Jayde Moxey-Hepburn and her team came highly recommended. I required major dental work and decided to give them a try. The first visit was a complete success so I made an additional appointment to have a tooth cavity repaired. They created a plan of action for the other major dental work to be completed. The big day came. I tried to not let anxiety get the best of me. I had no choice and had to have this work done. I walked into the office and the staff brought me into the dental chair. Dr.Jayde and her staff put me at ease. I was awake during the process, but thankfully don't remember much. The entire process took about two hours. The outcome couldn't have been better. I am very thankful I went to Centreville Dental and would highly recommend them to anyone requiring dental work, especially if you have anxiety about going to the dentist. Thank you so much Dr. Jayde and your team for taking such good care and helping me to get over this fear.
More
M Brown
6 months ago
I am a nervous patient when it comes to the dentist, especially when I need a filling. Freezing has always taken longer than normal to take effect so it’s not always been pleasant. Well, much to my surprise Dr. Moxey-Hepburn was very accommodating, fast, caring and gentle. I didn’t even feel the freezing needles enter my gums. She did excellent work. I can’t say I had a good time since it’s still a dental visit, but I can say I trust this dentist, I know I’m good hands, and it was as good an experience as I could have hoped for. My experience with all the staff here has always been great. My first filling with this doctor solidified the fact I made a good choice in coming here for my dental needs.
More
Centreville Dental - Waterdown

Request an Appointment Today

Call 866-756-5072