Have you experienced clicking or painful jaw joints, unexplained headaches, neck and back problems, cracked or sensitive teeth or receding gums?
Do you have an uncomfortable mouth? Please don’t suffer in silence: the team here at the Redland Road Dental Practice in Bristol can help.
Any or all of these issues may stem from how your jaw joints align and how your teeth bite together – and may indicate that you have a disorder called Temporo-Mandibular Joint Dysfunction, often known as TMJD or TMD.
TMD is when your bite position is at odds with where your jaw joints need to be for good function and stability. It is this ‘argument’ between your teeth and joints that creates the symptoms.
TMD is an umbrella term that covers a whole range of symptoms including:
Facial or muscle pain
- Discomfort in the muscles that control your lower jaw
- Pain in muscles in your head and neck
- Feeling of uncertainty about where your jaw should sit
- Tiredness in your jaw muscles
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Unstable neck and back & pelvis problems
Damage to your joints
- Clicking, popping and crunching noises coming from your jaw joints when opening or closing your mouth
- Pain in your joints
- Inability to open your mouth wide
- Pain in your ears, tinnitus, vertigo (dizziness)
Wear and damage to your teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Tooth sensitivity
- Loosening of your teeth
- Receding gums
- Notching of the neck of the teeth (known as abfraction lesions)
- Flattening of the biting surfaces or tips of your front teeth
- Breakage of crowns or fillings
Clinical expertise – you are in safe hands
Dr Charlotte Bishop has been treating TMJ disorders since 2001. She has a special interest in occlusal therapy, which is the study of how the teeth meet and the effects this has on the jaw joints, the muscles and the rest of the body, and is a member of the British Society for Occlusal Studies.
During your initial consultation, she firstly takes time to listen and understand the history behind the problem and then gathers all the necessary information to make a diagnosis. This includes making impressions and recording your jaw joint position to make study models, which reveal the extent of your bite problem.
You will then receive a bespoke treatment plan, according to your diagnosis. At the following visit, your study models will be discussed in detail so that you can gain a full understanding of your diagnosis and treatment plan.
Improve your sleep and reduce pain on waking
Often, a night appliance is prescribed to help diagnose and manage your pain. For people who grind their teeth, these are crucial to protect your teeth.
These appliances can also allow healing in damaged jaw joints and relax your muscles to reduce or eliminate pain. Charlotte is experienced in fitting and maintaining all types of these appliances.
What next?
Charlotte accepts referrals from other dentists, chiropractors and osteopaths, and patients can also self-refer for an assessment.