TMJ
Is your jaw clicking and popping as you chew or speak? Do you suffer from headaches, a stiff neck, or ringing in your ears?
These symptoms are often misdiagnosed and could actually be a sign of a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Our dentist, Dr. Nathaniel Podilsky in Edmonton, AB, can accurately diagnose and treat your TMD.
Are You Living with Jaw Pain? There Is Relief. Contact Our Downtown Edmonton Dental Office
TMD can cause extreme discomfort while eating and speaking. Dr. Podilsky can accurately diagnose your TMD and provide effective treatment to alleviate your pain. Contact our Edmonton dental practice to request a consultation.
Alleviate Your Pain Through Quality Dental Care
"Oral health is part of your overall health. With a healthy mouth, you can eat, speak and smile in comfort, which helps you feel physically, socially, and mentally well. A healthy mouth helps you enjoy life."
What Is TMD?
TMD is a painful condition affecting the jaw. It refers to any issue involving your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). While often used interchangeably, TMJ and TMD have separate meanings.
TMJ vs. TMD: Defining These Terms
TMJ refers to your temporomandibular joint, the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. This joint is located in front of your ears and allows you to move your jaw, chew, and speak.
TMD is any disorder of your TMJ. Temporomandibular disorders can often cause jaw pain, headaches, earaches or ringing, stiffness in the neck, and discomfort while chewing and speaking.
Why Chose Us For Your TMD Treatment?
Our patients are our priority. It is the goal of everyone at our dentistry practice to help each patient achieve healthy, gorgeous smiles. Through effective TMD treatment provided by our experienced dentist, you can live pain-free and prevent future oral and physical health issues.
Dr. Podilsky has been a practicing dentist for more than 40 years. He continues to stay up-to-date on the latest dental techniques to provide his patients with quality care. With his experience, he can accurately diagnose your TMD so he can provide an effective and individualized treatment plan.
Are You Ready To Alleviate Your Discomfort? Contact Our Downtown Edmonton Office Today
The pain caused by a temporomandibular disorder can cause added stress, a lack of sleep, and constant discomfort. Let our dental practice help you achieve a pain-free smile.
Dr. Nathaniel Podilsky has been practicing dentistry since 1982. With his experience, he can accurately diagnose the source of your oral pain and develop an effective treatment plan to help you live without discomfort.
Contact our Edmonton, AB, practice to request your consultation.
(780) 428-6846
Get an Accurate Diagnosis From an Experienced Dental Professional
"As the leader of your oral health team, your dentist brings years of specialized education to understanding your oral health. Only dentists can examine your teeth, gums and mouth, and recognize any problems that could affect your overall health."
The Types Of Temporomandibular Disorders
There are three main areas where your TMJ disorder can occur: Inside the joint, in the tissue surrounding the joint, or in the muscles of the joint.
Intracapsular
These are temporomandibular disorders that occur inside your TMJ. This form of TMD is typically a result of injury or a condition like arthritis. Symptoms of an intracapsular TMD include headaches and jaw dysfunctions like locking, clicking, and limited movement.
Capsular
These are temporomandibular disorders that occur in the tissues directly surrounding your TMJ. This form of TMD can also be caused by injury and arthritis. When the capsular tissue of your TMJ becomes inflamed, it can cause significant pain and discomfort.
Extracapsular
These temporomandibular disorders occur in the muscles surrounding your TMJ. Stress, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and a misaligned bite can cause tension in these muscles and lead to pain and spasms. Some patients will experience pain in the head, neck, and face.
What Causes TMD? There Is Not One Cause
The exact cause of TMD is unknown. However, there are several factors that have been found to lead to TMJ disorders.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of your joints that can also affect your jaw joint and cause TMD.
Misalignment
Crooked, overcrowded, missing, and gapped teeth can cause your bite to be misaligned. Without proper treatment, like Invisalign®, the misalignment can put added stress on your jaw joint and cause TMD.
Bruxism
Teeth grinding or jaw clenching puts added stress on your jaw joint and can lead to TMD.
Injury
Injury to your jaw or neck from physical trauma like a car accident or sports injury can lead to TMD.
Symptoms Can Be Misleading Get an Accurate Diagnosis
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The symptoms of TMD can be signs of other oral or physical health issues. Disorders of the temporomandibular joint occur most often in women and people aged 20-40. Contact our Downtown Edmonton practice to discover the root cause of your jaw pain.
Diagnosing Your TMD To Provide the Most Effective Treatment
Visit our Edmonton practice if you are experiencing temporomandibular joint symptoms. We can help alleviate your pain.
After a thorough examination, Dr. Podilsky can provide an accurate diagnosis and customized treatment.
Get the Treatment You Need Contact Our Downtown Edmonton Practice
Our staff is passionate about helping all our patients achieve healthy smiles. Undiagnosed TMD could put your overall oral and physical health at risk. By seeking treatment at our practice, you can:
Stop living in pain. Contact our Downtown Edmonton office to learn more about our TMD treatment options.
(780) 428-6846
Early Detection and Treatment Can Prevent Further Issues
"Early detection and treatment of oral diseases is important to stop any negative effects on the rest of your body."
Possible Treatment Options For TMJ Disorders
After your consultation at our Edmonton office, Dr. Podilsky will create a treatment plan to help alleviate your TMD symptoms.
At-Home Care
Mild symptoms, like jaw tenderness and sore muscles, can be managed at home with cold and warm compresses and over-the-counter pain medication. You should avoid eating any hard or chewy food so you don't put added stress on your temporomandibular joint.
Corrective Treatment
Dental treatment to correct misalignment or tooth erosion may be needed to alleviate your symptoms. By correcting these issues through procedures and restorations like dental crowns, we can relieve the added stress that is put on your temporomandibular joint and alleviate your painful symptoms.
Oral Splint
An oral splint can help keep your jaw in alignment to relieve any excess stress on your TMJ. A splint can also help alleviate the stress that teeth grinding and jaw clenching can put on your teeth and TMJ. Wearing a night guard will help prevent clenching and grinding while you sleep.
We Start With Conservative Treatment
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Conservative treatment options like oral splints, pain medication, and at-home care are typically enough to alleviate your symptoms. Rarely is surgery necessary for TMD. Visit our Downtown Edmonton practice to get your customized treatment plan for your TMD symptoms.
Good Oral Hygeine Can Help Prevent TMJ Issues
Sticking to a good oral hygiene routine can help prevent physical health issues and dental issues that can lead to TMD. Brushing and flossing daily helps prevent the buildup of plaque and bacteria that can lead to tooth decay and loss, which can cause TMD.
Regular visits to the dentist can help detect early dental issues like misalignment and tooth erosion that can lead to TMD. Early treatment of these dental problems can prevent TMD and help maintain your oral and physical health.
A Healthy Mouth Functions At Its Best
"Oral disease can affect every aspect of your life, including personal relationships and self-confidence. It can lead to pain, anxiety, disfigurement and acute/chronic infections. It can also disrupt your sleep and affect how or what you eat — all of which can impact your overall quality of life.
Keeping your mouth healthy helps it function well. It is important to look after your oral health for your overall health and well-being."
