TMJ Pain Treatment Brisbane | Zen Dental Studio Bridgeman Downs

How do I know if I clench or grind my teeth? Clenching, grinding and jaw pain occur either during the day or night or at all times. Patients often may feel tired or sore jaw muscles in the morning after waking up if they night time clench or grind their teeth (called nocturnal bruxism). Your teeth may feel sensitive or tender and you may have been suffering chronically with headaches and neckaches. Your teeth may have worn down and you may have been informed of this at previous appointments. Sometimes, you may have popping or clicking noises from the jaws. Other symptoms are limited jaw opening and range of motion and locked jaw. Are head, neck and jaw (TMJ) pain related? Most headaches are tension headaches due to increased muscle tension. Nocturnal bruxism is an important cause of increased muscle tension. The jaw muscles that are used to clench and grind are balanced by the muscles of the neck, thus an overstrain in the jaw muscles can also lead to neck pain. What treatment options do you offer? At Zen Dental Studio, our dentists have undergoing extensive training in jaw related pain. A comprehensive examination of your jaw, head and neck muscles, muscle palpation as well as evaluation of your bite, teeth and gums is carried out. Not all TMJ pain leads to head and neck aches and vice versa. Thus, a thorough examination and history is carried out to understand the cause. A 3D CBCT or MRI scan may be advised to further view the jaw muscles and jaw joints to understand the exact cause of the problem. An imbalance in the bite or teeth positioning may also need to be assessed and adjusted. What is the role for Zen Dental Studio’s dentists in treating TMJ? A dentist plays an immense role in helping with these conditions. We can identify potential problems and either treat or refer to the appropriate medical specialists for proper management. Is a splint or nightguard the solution? A night splint specifically designed according to the problem will feel comfortable and reposition your jaw into a neutral comfortable position thus relieving pressure and pain. There are many designs for splints and sometimes a different day and night splint may be required. In addition, acupuncture, injections of Botox, Steroids or other substances may be an adjunctive treatment if needed. A multidisciplinary approach with treatment also by an osteopath, chiropractor or physiotherapist maybe needed. How much does treatment cost? A thorough assessment and diagnosis of the problem is the first step. A consult costs $80 and the long standing problem can be discussed. Based on what is needed a thorough cost estimate can then be provided. How much does my health insurance cover? We can check your expected out of pocket costs on the day of appointment with our HICAPS instant claims machine before commencing treatment, so that you have peace of mind. What payment plan options are available? At Zen Dental Studio, we have various payment plan options available. Please refer to our Payments plan page for more information.