TMJ Treatment in East Hills

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint and is often used to describe inflammation or disorders of these hinge-like constructs that connect the lower jaw to the skull.

When the TMJs are not working correctly, you may notice some or all of these symptoms:

• A clicking or popping sound in the jaw when you chew or yawn
• Painful chewing and yawning
• Generalised jaw pain and discomfort
• Head, neck and shoulder pain

If your TMJ is related to bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), you may also notice tooth wear, tooth fractures and exaggerated musculature in front of the ears.

If you have TMJ, you’re not alone!

We are pleased to offer treatment geared toward TMJ relief in East Hills.

The Process: From Diagnosis to Personalised Care

Our bruxism dentist can assess your jaw joints, tooth health and symptoms to help determine whether you have TMJ.

If you are diagnosed, and depending on your level of TMJ and the complexity of your case, we may start treatment or refer you for surgery.

TMJ treatment may include:

• Targeted surgery
• Specific or targeted muscle therapies
• Oral appliance therapies
• Orthodontics
• Muscle relaxant injections

Our muscle relaxant injections are designed to target the muscles that promote bruxism and aggravate the TMJs.

These injectables relax or slacken the muscles, which discourages teeth grinding. The goal is also to give the TMJs a chance to heal and rest.

After the injections, you may notice temporary bruising and minor discomfort for a few days, but this is expected and can be treated with an over-the-counter medications.

The injectables are designed to relieve your TMJ symptoms and bruxism (if bruxism is the culprit) for a predetermined period, usually a few months. Your dentist will provide an injection schedule to help maintain your symptom relief.

Other potential uses for our injectables include myofunctional therapy by helping correct improper muscle habits that contribute to conditions, like sleep apnoea and breathing and swallowing issues. Injectables may also be used to treat fine lines and wrinkles.

Your East Hills dentist will create a personalised plan designed specifically for your case, let you know what to expect and discuss potential risks at the time of treatment.

Treatment Outcomes: Treatment outcomes vary between individuals. Your dentist will discuss what results are realistic for your circumstances.
Timeline of Treatment: Treatment timelines depend on patient suitability and clinical needs. Your dentist will confirm your expected treatment timeframe.

TMJ Treatment in East Hills

We always aim to help our patients enjoy smile comfort, which is why we’re pleased to offer TMJ therapy. To learn more or to arrange a consultation with the dentist, we welcome your call on (02) 8528 7144.