Q. What is TMJ Syndrome?

A. TMJ Syndrome stands for Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome. The Temporomandibular Joint is the technical term for your jaw.

Q. What causes TMJ Syndrome?

A. In the majority of cases, TMJ Syndrome comes from having an incorrect bite or malocclusion. Malocclusion means that your upper and lower teeth do not close together in the correct way and are misaligned causing trauma.

Misaligned teeth cannot support your facial muscles correctly during chewing and swallowing. The muscles change to accommodate your malocclusion, causing a range of debilitating symptoms.

Q. Who Suffers from TMJ Syndrome?

A. Millions of people are affected by this condition. TMJ Syndrome affect each gender differently with females suffering more pain and men suffering more damage and general wear.

Q. I am in no pain. Do I have TMJ Syndrome?

A. Although your teeth may appear to be straight and have no painful symptoms, it is the biting pattern of your jaws that can cause TMJ Syndrome. Although you may not be in pain now, that may change if your bite is affected further.

Q. How do you diagnose TMJ Syndrome?

A.When you come to our practice complaining of jaw pain or/and other symptoms of TMJ Disorder, Dr Moffet will examine your jaw joint movement and jaw joint function.

You will then be referred to have a series of 3D x rays and scans to better help determine the health of your jaw joints.

Q. How do you treat TMJ Syndrome?

A. Treatment for TMJ Dysfunction varies depending on the severity of each individual case. After consultation with Dr Moffet, he will recommend the best course of action.

The basic steps involved in treating your TMJ problems:

1.Relieve your muscle pain and spasms

2. Stabilise your bite using dental orthotics to create a harmonious bite in which the teeth, joints of the jaw and head/jaw muscles all work together properly with no strain or pain!

Q. What is a TMJ Orthotic?

A. Many people wonder what this is. People often confuse an orthotic with a basic dental splint used to stop the grinding of teeth, often at night.

The TMJ Dental Orthotic is designed at our lab specifically for your TMJ disorder and is a critical part of treating your TMJ problem and getting you out of pain.

The TMJ Orthotic will gently reposition the jaw. During the next few months of wearing the upper TMJ Orthotic at night and lower one only during the day, the jaw muscles will begin tho heal themselves and learn to chew, swallow and even rest in their most relaxed position.

The new position of your jaw will also start to reduce the pain and other symptoms associated with the TMJ.

Q. How long will I wear the TMJ Orthotic?

A. This can depend on each person and the severity of their TMJ Disorder. Usually you will wear the Dental Orthotic day and night for 3-4 months then gradually decrease the time until you do not require the Dental Orthotic to maintain your new relaxed pain free jaw position.