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Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

TMJ Treatment in London

Relief from Jaw Pain, Clicking and Locking

Do you experience a clicking jaw, discomfort when chewing, or headaches? These are often signs of TMJ disorder (temporomandibular joint dysfunction), a condition that affects the hinge connecting your jaw to your skull. TMJ problems can lead to various symptoms, including jaw pain, locking, and bite misalignment. At Museum Dental Suites, our TMJ specialist dentist in London offer specialised TMJ treatment to restore jaw function and relieve discomfort effectively.

What is a TMJ disorder?

TMJ disorder is a common condition that affects the jaw joint, causing several discomforting symptoms, including jaw pain. Non-surgical treatments are available to treat TMJ disorders. These solutions can permanently correct TMJ disorders, so you don’t have to suffer from TMJ and it's side effects. Surgery is usually the last treatment option.

TMJ disorder treatments vary and are specific for each patient, depending on the exact cause of the disorder. Our experts will review your symptoms and then examine your teeth, including restorations, your teeth position and the extent of wear.

Treatment usually starts with wearing a bite splint, also called a hard bite guard, Michigan splint or Tanner splint to allow the teeth and jaw to find a more natural and balanced position. Our expert can also offer a more permanent solution when your teeth and jaw are more balanced, and your symptoms have subsided.

This may include teeth straightening treatments (orthodontics), restoring the teeth, or a combination of these treatments. We may also offer neuromuscular dentistry, focusing on the jaw position, tissues and teeth surrounding it.

Our dentist is a lecturer on this topic and has a passion for treatments of TMJ disorder.

tmj Before tmj After

What causes TMJ disorder?

  • An unbalanced bite

    Uneven and bad bites, early tooth contacts, severe underbite or overbite, cross bites, deep bites are the some causes of TMJ disorder. A bad bite may result from tooth loss, thumb sucking, trauma to the teeth, and airway problems.

  • Growth discrepancy

    The timings and genetic skeletal anatomy of growth can cause assymetries in the jaw joint. Misalignment of the ligaments, muscles and bones can also cause TMJ later in life.

  • Trauma, injury or impact

    A serious impact on the head or body can affect the muscles and joints in your neck, face and head. This may cause TMJ and its side effects, such as pain, discomfort and irritation.

    Sometimes even a faint of fall could start a problem with the bite and or TMJ.

  • Unbalanced dental treatment

    Orthodontic and dental treatments which cause asymmetry in the mouth may affect your bite, resulting in TMJ problems. Such as a crown that is very high or a brace that moved some of the back teeth into the bite path.

Symptoms of TMJ disorder

  • Tension headaches
  • Teeth clenching
  • Face and jaw pain
  • Difficulty in chewing
  • Shoulder and neck pain
  • Migraines
  • Teeth grinding during sleep and reduced quality of sleep
  • Clicking when closing or opening the jaws
  • Locking if the jaw
  • Ear fullness and hearing noises

These symptoms usually worsen during periods of anxiety, stress or tension. When stressed, many people grind or clench their teeth while sleeping. This puts a lot of pressure on the jaw joint, causing disharmony in the joints and surrounding muscles. This results in the above symptoms.

Treatment for TMJ disorder

The main treatments for TMJ disorder include:

  • Bite splints

    Bite splints are an important dental device for the treatment of TMJ problems. They treat temporomandibular issues, protect the teeth from wear and damage, and stabilise the bite. This treatment helps restore the jaw-muscle function and reduce pain by balancing the bite.  

    When bruxism is a possible cause of TMJ disorder, the dental professional will take a scan of the teeth and bite to make an intraoral appliance called an occlusal splint using acrylic resin.

    Bite splints need to be properly fitted and reviewed in the mouth to allow for proper treatment of the TMJ.

    This is usually worn at night but can be used during the day.

  • Invisalign to correct bite and TMJ problems

    Invisalign clear aligners gradually shift teeth to their desired position and reduce stress on the temporomandibular joint. This significantly reduces TMJ disorder symptoms, but Invisalign treatment doesn’t give an overnight solution.

    The process is complex and not without some difficulties and our dentists are able to help with this.

  • Physical treatment

    The physical treatment for TMJ disorder usually includes physiotherapy (exercises and massages), ultrasounds, massage and Osteopathic solutions

  • Drug treatments

    The common drugs prescribed for TMJ disorders include anxiolitics, anaesthesia, painkillers, anti-inflammatories, antidepressives and muscle relaxers.

  • Psychological treatment

    When the cause of TMJ disorder is mind based (depression, anxiety), psychological treatment is necessary.

TMJ treatment cost at Our Clinic

The cost of TMJ treatment depends on the severity of the conditions. Our TMJ specialist will examine your bite and teeth during your initial consultation to determine your condition’s severity. A custom-made basic bite guard is suitable for many patients, but for more severe conditions or when the jaw joint clicks, a more specialised hard acrylic bite guard made specifically for the patient is necessary.

Care at Museum Dental Suites

A visit to an experienced dental professional is the first step to treating TMJ disorder. During your initial consultation, the dental professional may also diagnose separate, symptomatic or causal oral conditions that need treatment.

Our dental professional will also consider other possible jaw conditions in your case to ensure effective treatment planning. If TMJ is the main issue, we will offer excellent care and treatment focused on minimum intervention to achieve an effective result.

TMJ disorder can cause pain, loss of jaw function, and issues affecting other body parts. The discomfort may affect core functions such as speaking and eating, so early and effective treatment is important.

Good oral function is essential to enjoying a healthy life. If you experience any TMJ disorder symptoms, contact Museum Dental Suites at [email protected] or 020 7183 0527 to book an appointment with our dental professional.

Frequently asked questions

About 1 in 10 people in the UK suffer from long term jaw joint problems. 8 out of 10 people suffer from TMJ problems at some point in their lives. Due to trauma, stress or grinding. This condition is slightly more common in women than in men.

In the majority of cases it can be helped and reduced, but some cases are more complex such as arthritis or permanent dislocated TMJ discs.

The main causes of TMJ disorders are stress or previous trauma related and result on clenching and grinding.

It is possible to alleviate these issues and by choosing an appropriate and carefully planned treatment you can help to correct the TMJ problem.

Yes there is. You can undergo treatment for TMJ disorder at Museum Dental Suites. Our highly trained dentists have a special interest and deep understanding of the TMJ.

We have successfully treated hundreds of patients to lead a more comfortable life with pain, clicking and tooth problems reduced or even in some many cases eradicated

In general most of you will have no serious effects if you don't treat TMJ disorder, but will have pain and discomfort, this can result in feelings of anxiety and sometimes depression.

In rare cases this pain and anatomical discrepancies can be so bad that it reduce the ability to function normally. This is why preventative measures can, in some cases be better for you.

TMJ disorder can be a condition that comes and goes due to stressful events. Yet a minority of cases it is a condition that is lifelong until the bite is corrected.

An even smaller minority of people have problems in the jaw joint that are so damaged they need longterm management and rarely surgery.

Luckily we have the referral pathways and knowledge to help if you suffer from such a severe problem.

TMJ disorder is both a dental and medical problem. As it can originate from psychological stress and trauma, muscular dysfunction in the upper neck and from bite imbalance and unconscious habits.

Yes, they are. Mouthguards are the least invasive treatment option for TMJ pain. However, you cannot wear your mouthguard at all times. Dentists recommend wearing them at night to prevent further teeth grinding and aid better sleeping.

Most patients need a custom-made soft guard. In more severe cases, or when clicking jaw joint occurs, a hard acrylic bite guard is custom-made for the bite, and teeth are necessary.

Hard mouth guards or splints are generally recommended for you at this clinic as it gives the most dependable results.

There isn’t a specific treatment duration for TMJ, but it takes about 1 – 3 months to stop experiencing pain. Therapies like facial heat massage, specific jaw exercises, stress reduction exercises and massaging can help provide instant relief.

Habit and psychological training and help may be needed to help you deal with stress and it's effect on your TMJ.

In many cases long term check ups and reviews are necessary.

In a few cases, the pain may resolve without treatment, but in most cases, treatment is necessary.

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