At The Dental Boutique, our Gold Coast dentists are passionate about providing comprehensive general dentistry, as well as cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry, including TMD and tinnitus treatment. Learn more about TMD and TMJ syndrome treatment to free yourself from headaches and jaw pain and take better care of your natural teeth and veneers.
Is Temporomandibular Dysfunction a Problem for You??
Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) is the term used to describe problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles that are responsible for jaw movement. Around 70 percent of people who show signs of TMD don’t experience any pain, so it can be tough to know if it’s actually affecting you.
Our Gold Coast dentists recommend looking out for these symptoms:
- Stress or tension headaches
- Jaw joint pain
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Tinnitus
- Ear congestion
- Neck pain
- Pain behind the eye
- Poor sleep
- Discomfort and difficulty sleeping
How Does Neuromuscular Dentistry Work?
While your face is rested, your jaw should be aligned and relaxed. If your jaw is misaligned, you may experience painful symptoms that can worsen over time. Neuromuscular Dentistry (NMD) focuses on improving the relationship between your natural teeth, veneers, jaw joints, and muscles to avoid this pain.
Ongoing treatment options to restore the movement in your joint include:
- Wearing an oral appliance to prevent the jaws from grinding throughout the night
- Neuromuscular therapy to relax the joint and to retrain the muscles in their primary functions
- Surgery – this is an absolute last-resort option.
What to Expect from Neuromuscular Dentistry?
Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on relaxing the muscles around the jaw with a specially made transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) device. This ultra-low frequency device relaxes the muscles to give your practitioner the best chance of realigning your jaw as part of TMD or tinnitus treatment.
We then use a K7 machine to establish the best position for your jaw while at rest and in motion. K7 uses electromyography, sonography, and jaw-tracking scans to listen to your jaw joint and record which muscles are experiencing tension. You will receive a custom-made orthotic device that gently realigns your jaw by maintaining a relaxed position.
Custom Neuromuscular Dental Treatments
Ready for expert neuromuscular dentistry and tinnitus treatment to solve your jaw problems and better support your natural teeth or veneers? Get in touch with The Dental Boutique today to get started on excellent dental care for TMD and TMJ syndrome with our Gold Coast dentists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tension headaches are often caused by muscle strain or stress. Poor posture, jaw clenching or teeth grinding (bruxism) can contribute to the tension that leads to these headaches. Managing stress, improving posture and using relaxation techniques can help prevent tension headaches. Neuromuscular treatments, such as muscle relaxants or custom mouthguards, can also offer relief from daily tension headaches.
Jaw pain when chewing is often a sign of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) or bruxism, where the jaw muscles or joints become overworked or misaligned. Other factors, like a bad bite or teeth grinding, can also contribute. If you experience persistent or severe jaw pain, it’s important to seek professional treatment, as early intervention can prevent further complications and alleviate discomfort.
Yes, wisdom teeth can cause jaw pain, especially if they are impacted or not coming through properly. The pressure from these teeth can lead to swelling, pain and even infection in the jaw. If you suspect that your wisdom teeth are the source of jaw pain, it’s important to see a dentist for an evaluation and treatment plan. Removing or treating impacted wisdom teeth can relieve pain and prevent further issues.
Jaw pain after a tooth extraction can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the complexity of the extraction. Swelling and discomfort are common immediately following the procedure. However, following your dentist’s aftercare instructions will help reduce recovery time and ensure a smoother healing process. If pain persists or worsens, contact your dentist for further advice.
Bruxism or teeth grinding, is commonly caused by stress, anxiety or misaligned teeth. It can occur during the day or at night, often without the person realising it. Over time, bruxism can lead to jaw pain, tooth damage and even headaches. Managing stress, using a mouthguard or seeking professional treatment can help prevent the damage caused by bruxism.
Tinnitus is the perception of ringing or buzzing sounds in the ears when no external sound is present. It is often caused by issues with the auditory nerve or the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which can create a connection between jaw and ear symptoms. Tinnitus can also be triggered by exposure to loud noises, ear infections or underlying health conditions. Treatment may include managing the cause, sound therapy or neuromuscular dentistry techniques to address jaw-related tinnitus.
