Get relief from TMJ pain and airway issues with solutions customized to your needs.
Options for Compromised Airways and Jaw Joints
Are you suffering from:
- snoring,
- teeth grinding and clenching,
- clicking or popping of the jaw joints,
- migraine headaches?
Sundeep Chohan, General Dentist, can help. She’ll get to the bottom of your symptoms and create a personalized treatment plan aimed at alleviating pain and improving function.
As a Denta4 member, Dr. Chohan is trained in screening, diagnosing and managing problems with the airway, temporomandibular joints (TMJ), chewing muscles and teeth. If you’re ready to explore non-surgical options, let’s talk!
What is TMD?
The TMJ connects the jawbone to the skull on either side of the face. TMD is a condition affecting the joint itself or the related ligaments, discs and muscles that control jaw movement. TMD can be caused by trauma, strain, bruxism, a bite imbalance, degenerative changes like arthritis and other factors.
What Does My Airway Have to Do With it?
Your jaw and the structures of your mouth can impact your breathing. And the first signs of sleep-disordered breathing like obstructive sleep apnea and upper-airway resistance syndrome often show up in your mouth. This means your dentist is a good resource if you’re snoring or waking up tired after eight hours of sleep.
Evidence-Based Treatment Options
Dr. Chohan uses proven, conservative treatment options to address cranial dental health issues. Your personalized treatment plan could include a mix of the following:
- Homecare – ice and/or moist heat, avoiding chewing gum, a temporary soft foods diet, gentle TMJ stretches, etc.
- Medication – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAID) or muscles relaxants
- Custom oral appliance – a day-time or night-time orthotic appliance, sometimes called a nightguard or a TMJ splint, that opens the airway and/or takes pressure off the jaw joints
- Botox® – Botox injections in the jaw muscles to ease tension and relax the jaw, as well as injections for TMD-related headaches, if needed
- Dental restorations – dental bridges, crowns or implants to address a bite imbalance
- Invisalign® – straightening the teeth if a misaligned bite is behind the symptoms
Benefits Of
TMJ/TMD Treatment
Reduces Acute Pain
The first step of treatment is to stop your acute TMJ pain and reduce sleep-disordered breathing. This, in turn, alleviates the related symptoms like headaches and snoring.
Better Function
Treatment can help open the airway for better breathing and sleep. It can also restore jaw mobility, so you can chew, speak and yawn comfortably.
Long-Term Improvement
We’ll diagnose the underlying cause of your TMD or sleep-disordered breathing and work with you to create a plan for long-term improvement.
What are the symptoms of TMD?
The signs of TMD include:
- Tenderness and pain in the jaw
- Ear pain
- Popping or clicking sounds when opening and closing the jaw (popping or clicking sounds on their own aren’t a big concern, but treatment may be needed when the noises are accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain)
- Inability to open the mouth all of the way
- The jaw getting “locked” while it’s open or closed
- Facial pain, neck pain and headaches
What are the symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing?
Signs of sleep-disordered breathing, such as sleep apnea and upper-airway resistance syndrome include:
- Snoring
- Waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
- Episodes of stopped breathing while sleeping
- Waking up with a sore throat or dry mouth
- Headaches, especially in the morning
- Difficulty focusing
- Irritability
What causes temporomandibular disorders?
TMD can be caused by degenerative changes (i.e., arthritis), strain or injury that affects the temporomandibular joints, tendons, ligaments and/or discs. It can also be the result of prolonged bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), which is often made worse by stress. Additional risk factors include your age and having a chronic pain condition, such as fibromyalgia.
What causes sleep-disordered breathing?
Risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing include:
- Abnormalities of the jaw and structures of the mouth
- A narrow airway
- Being overweight
- Having a larger neck circumference
- Genetics
- Being male
- Age
- Smoking
- Using alcohol or sedatives
- Nasal congestion
- Medical conditions like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
What is Denta4?
Denta4 is a system and training that helps dentists develop expertise in diagnosing and treating compromised airways and jaw joints. As a Denta4 member, our South Surrey general dentist, Dr. Chohan, knows the anatomy of the airway and chewing system inside and out. She can develop an individualized treatment plan to maximize your airway and improve the health of your jaw joints.
