Jaw pain is not normal.
If jaw pain is part of your everyday life, it may seem normal to you. The truth is, jaw pain is far from normal and may be a symptom of a condition called TMD from one or both of your TMJs. Those are the joints of your lower jaw, called TemporoMandibular Joints. When disease or misalignment occurs, the TMJ and surrounding area becomes inflamed — which is what causes pain and other symptoms.
- Headaches
- Earaches, tenderness around the ear
- Face or jaw pain and tenderness
- Muscle pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back
- Ringing in the ears
- Clicking, popping, or grinding jaw
- Difficulty chewing, yawning or opening your mouth
What are the signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)?
How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?
Diagnosis
Treatment of TMD begins with a comprehensive clinical examination, to check your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your appointment, we will check for pain and tenderness and listen for clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If the disorder is diagnosed, a bite splint or night guard is often recommended as the initial treatment.
Treatment and Relief
Our treatment application involves bite splints, which are custom-created plastic mouthpieces, designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These type of devices prevent the grinding and clenching that often causes or worsens TMD. The splint also realigns the jaw, removing stress on the surrounding area.
Alternative Treatment Options
If a misaligned bite or missing teeth are the cause of your symptoms, we may recommend orthodontics or restorative dental work. If your bite is placing undue pressure on the TMJ’s, we may suggest reshaping individual teeth to redistribute the bite force evenly.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint. If this joint becomes misaligned or inflamed we refer to that as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD for short.
Signs or symptoms of TMD include pain and tenderness in or around the ear, the jaw joint, or the muscles of the jaw, face or temples. Other symptoms are problems opening or closing your mouth, and a clicking, popping, crunching or grinding noise when you chew, yawn or open your mouth. TMDs may be linked with neck pain and headaches.
TMD is caused by a combination of factors like jaw injuries and joint disease, such as arthritis. It’s believed that bruxism (tooth clenching or grinding) and head or neck muscle tension may make TMD symptoms worse. Stress is also a possible factor. However, it is not clear if stress causes TMD or is a result. Other things that may lead to TMDs are partial or full dentures that are not the right fit and certain habits such as fingernail biting and pen or pencil biting. As you can see, there are an array of different causes which makes TMD hard to diagnose. The best way to understand your jaw pain symptoms are to book an appointment.
There are many possible causes of headaches. No doctor will be able to determine the cause of your headache without a physical examination.
Most often, TMJ pain can be treated effectively with non-invasive treatments and therapies. In very rare circumstances, TMD may require surgery. Your health and happiness are both important to us. We will always present you with all of your options, work through the safest and easiest options first, and give you the final decision on what happens next.
Google Verified Patient Reviews
Benjamin Raine
2 months ago
I cannot recommend Dr. Grant Yiu and his staff enough. Truly wonderful people that happen to be amazing at their jobs, so professional but so comfortable at the same time. Somehow it is a beautiful mix of clean and cozy at a dental office??!! I am not the best at the dentist and always seem to revert into a 12 year old’s pain threshold, had my first pretty serious dental work (crown) and was almost literally, hand held through the whole experience. I’m stuck with them for life and forever grateful I needed emergency dental work.
steph dacosta
5 months ago
I normally find myself at Little Italy Dentistry every 4-6 months for a stellar cleaning with the incredibly friendly and detailed hygienist, Erin.
This time, when I found myself with a tooth emergency, the front desk staff got me in to see Dr. Yiu faster than an Ontario driver in a school zone. Both Dr. Yiu and dental assistant Claire immediately calmed my nerves, conducted a thorough exam, determined the problem and patched me right up.
Whether it's for a simple routine cleaning or something more serious, I trust the team at Little Italy Dentistry. Plus, they have the good mouthwash; not the burny stuff, or the poison that turns your mouth into a desert landscape.
My outside bones have never felt so good!
paul hart
5 months ago
I recently had my first visit to this amazing dental office. From the time I entered until I left the visit was exceptional. The staff at the desk were pleasant and very helpful. I needed a cleaning and have never so gentle yet through experience. The dentist is a very dedicated and caring professional.
This is now my dental office.
Paul Hart MD
Scott Mckenzie
7 months ago
Had an amazing experience with Little Italy Dentistry. The front of house team were delightful and Dr Grant Yiu was incredibly empathetic and kind. Fixed an issue with a filling I had from a different clinic and made me feel a lot better about my appearance. Will definitely be back. Thank you.
Dk
2 years ago
This is a great dental clinic. I’ve been with them for a long time and not planning to change. I used to live close by, but now, I still travel just get what I need done by my dentist. They just moved from their old location to a new one, more modern with lots of space. Very clean and amazing team.
Benjamin Raine
2 months ago
I cannot recommend Dr. Grant Yiu and his staff enough. Truly wonderful people that happen to be amazing at their jobs, so professional but so comfortable at the same time. Somehow it is a beautiful mix of clean and cozy at a dental office??!! I am not the best at the dentist and always seem to revert into a 12 year old’s pain threshold, had my first pretty serious dental work (crown) and was almost literally, hand held through the whole experience. I’m stuck with them for life and forever grateful I needed emergency dental work.
steph dacosta
5 months ago
I normally find myself at Little Italy Dentistry every 4-6 months for a stellar cleaning with the incredibly friendly and detailed hygienist, Erin.
This time, when I found myself with a tooth emergency, the front desk staff got me in to see Dr. Yiu faster than an Ontario driver in a school zone. Both Dr. Yiu and dental assistant Claire immediately calmed my nerves, conducted a thorough exam, determined the problem and patched me right up.
Whether it's for a simple routine cleaning or something more serious, I trust the team at Little Italy Dentistry. Plus, they have the good mouthwash; not the burny stuff, or the poison that turns your mouth into a desert landscape.
My outside bones have never felt so good!
paul hart
5 months ago
I recently had my first visit to this amazing dental office. From the time I entered until I left the visit was exceptional. The staff at the desk were pleasant and very helpful. I needed a cleaning and have never so gentle yet through experience. The dentist is a very dedicated and caring professional.
This is now my dental office.
Paul Hart MD
Scott Mckenzie
7 months ago
Had an amazing experience with Little Italy Dentistry. The front of house team were delightful and Dr Grant Yiu was incredibly empathetic and kind. Fixed an issue with a filling I had from a different clinic and made me feel a lot better about my appearance. Will definitely be back. Thank you.
Dk
2 years ago
This is a great dental clinic. I’ve been with them for a long time and not planning to change. I used to live close by, but now, I still travel just get what I need done by my dentist. They just moved from their old location to a new one, more modern with lots of space. Very clean and amazing team.
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