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Have you ever dreamed of having straighter teeth? Maybe you’re self conscious about the appearance of your smile, or you have a hard time brushing and flossing thoroughly because you have crooked teeth. Perhaps you suffer from TMJ pain, and you’ve been told that your misaligned jaw has a lot to do with your bite. Whatever your reason may be, you’re not alone in wanting straight teeth. At Trillium Dental, we offer Invisalign® for patients who want a more attractive smile without having to get braces. Here are just a few of the many benefits of having straight teeth!

HEALTHIER GUMS

The health of your teeth and gums goes hand-in-hand — after all, they are neighbors! If you have crowded or crooked teeth, this creates tight spaces between the teeth that are often hard to reach when you brush and floss your teeth, leading to plaque and tartar buildup. You’ll notice that the gums in these areas become tender and inflamed when you try to reach them, ultimately leading to swollen, bleeding gums. Straightening your teeth via Invisalign or braces is a great way to open up these spaces a bit more, encouraging the gums to heal and reattach to the teeth in a healthier way. The best part? People who have straight teeth are less likely to develop gingivitis and gum disease.

REDUCED TMJ PAIN

Many people who have crooked teeth also suffer from disorders of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Common symptoms of TMJ disorders are jaw pain, a popping or clicking jaw, headaches, soreness in the ears and facial muscles, a grinding noise when you chew, and restricted jaw movement. If you are experiencing any of these TMJ symptoms, straightening your teeth may help. Both Invisalign and traditional braces address alignment issues in the mouth, including overbites, underbites, and cross bites, which have a direct impact on TMJ function.

Read More: Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

BETTER OVERALL HEALTH

As previously mentioned, crooked teeth can lead to gum disease, which is a serious health condition that can be life-threatening. This is because the mouth is “vascular,” meaning that it is connected to many other organs in the body via the bloodstream. If your teeth are crooked and you’ve developed gum disease, the bacteria in the infected gums can make its way to your heart and other vital systems if the gums bleed. That being said, straightening your teeth is not only a good way to reduce your risk of developing gum disease, but also serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

IMPROVED CONFIDENCE

The benefits of straight teeth are not all physical — in fact, straighter teeth come with lots of mental and emotional benefits as well. The most obvious of these is enhanced self-esteem, self-image, and overall confidence. Many people with crooked teeth are hesitant to smile around others because they are embarrassed about the appearance of their teeth. This is understandable, as your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you have beautiful, straight teeth that you’re proud of, you’ll look and feel more attractive, making you less reluctant to hiding your pearly whites around others.

INCREASED HAPPINESS

With improved self-image, self-esteem, and confidence comes increased happiness overall. When you don’t feel like you have to hide your smile around others, you’ll be able to fully enjoy life’s special moments, such as greeting a friend, laughing at a joke, singing to your favorite song, or just grinning out of pure joy. Studies show that a genuine smile has a huge impact on your mood, releasing “feel good” hormones in your brain and making you feel at ease. Now, multiply that by however many people you’re currently with, because smiles are contagious. Just think about all the joy you’re spreading now that you have beautiful, straight teeth!

BOOK AN INVISALIGN CONSULTATION AT OUR OTTAWA DENTAL CLINIC

Of course, there are many other benefits of straight teeth that we didn’t touch on in this blog, but we’re leaving those for you to experience for yourself! As a family dental clinic in Ottawa, we’re here to help you get the straight smile you’ve always wanted so you can maintain good health, confidence, and happiness in life. Contact Trillium Dental today to find a dental office near you, or book an appointment with us online!

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TMJ dysfunction (also known as TMJ disorder, TMJD, or TMD) is a common problem that many people face, causing them to seek TMJ treatment at their local dental clinic or doctor’s office. Despite the prevalence of TMJ disorder, there are no standard medications or remedies for this condition, which has led medical professionals to get creative in terms of neuromuscular dentistry treatments and therapies. At Trillium Dental in Ottawa, we offer bruxism and TMJ treatments involving the use of a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator) unit that helps to realign the jaw into its correct position with a custom-made orthotic. Contact us today to learn more, or continue reading for some basic information about TMDs.

CAUSES OF TMJ DISORDER CAN BE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE

Unlike other dental problems, such as gum disease, oral cancer, and tooth cavities, there are many possible causes of TMJ disorder, and some patients have a combination of two or more causes. These include:

• Traumatic facial injury — in some cases, patients with a TMD have suffered a facial injury that has affected their temporomandibular joint and/or the surrounding jawbone. This can cause the jawbone to be misaligned, leading to jaw pain and inhibited jaw movement.
• Teeth grinding — dental patients who perpetually clench or grind their teeth (known as bruxism) are at a heightened risk of developing a TMD, as this can interfere with the natural sliding hinge function of the jawbone. If you grind or clench your teeth, talk to your dentist about prevention methods, such as night guards for your teeth.
• Arthritis — arthritis affects the cartilage and joints in the body, and it is not particularly uncommon for patients with arthritis to also experience jaw pain or discomfort. Arthritis can damage the temporomandibular joint, causing TMJ problems, such as neck and facial pain, difficulty chewing, and more.
• Disc erosion/dislocation — since each temporomandibular joint fits to the jawbone’s socket and ball with a disc, erosion or dislocation of these discs can cause a TMD. A dental x-ray is required to determine whether or not this is the case, so be sure to consult your family dentist if you think you have an eroded or dislocated disc.

Read More: Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)

SYMPTOMS OF A TMD CAN OCCUR ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE FACE

The human jawbone has a temporomandibular joint on both sides, allowing you to open and close your mouth in a sliding hinge motion. Given the potential causes of TMJ disorders listed above, it is possible that you can experience symptoms of a TMD on one or both sides of the face. Here are the most common TMD symptoms that patients experience:

• Jaw pain — jaw pain is the most common symptom of TMJ disorder; however, it is important to note that jaw pain can be caused by a number of things, including earaches and sinus infections. If you are experiencing chronic jaw pain that lasts longer than a few weeks, see your local dentist about possible TMJ pain treatments.
• Facial soreness — many people with a TMD will also experience soreness in other areas of the face, including the temples, forehead muscles, and even the ears. This is another reason why it’s important to rule out other medical issues before pursuing TMJ treatment; you may simply have a sinus infection or other illness.
• Popping jaw — If the disks in either side of your jaw pop or click when you open and close your mouth, this could be a symptom of a TMD. Often, this causes pain, so be sure to check in with your family dentist if your jaw constantly makes a popping or clicking sound and this is accompanied by jaw pain or headaches.
• Noise when chewing — a grinding or crunching noise when you chew is another possible indication of a TMD. This is because the natural hinge movement of the disks is inhibited when the temporomandibular joint is injured or deteriorated, causing a grinding sound when it would otherwise be silent.
• Limited jaw movement — many people with a TMD experience trouble opening their mouths, whether that be due to lockjaw or just difficulty opening their mouth more than a few centimeters wide. It is not uncommon for patients with a TMJ disorder to also experience pain when they open and close their mouths, so check in with a doctor or dentist if this is the case.
• Headaches — headaches are another common sign of TMJ disorders, but as with jaw pain, headaches are caused by a number of things, like stress, illness, dehydration, medication, hangovers, etc. Visit your family dentist if you are experiencing headaches in addition to any of the other TMD symptoms listed above.

DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT VARIES BY MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL

Given that there is no streamlined process for diagnosing and treating TMJ disorder, each dentist and doctor will have a slightly different process for addressing TMDs. Some may simply take an x-ray and offer advice with regard to pain medications, while others might offer TMJ therapy options, known as neuromuscular dentistry techniques. Biofeedback techniques are sometimes used, as are other relaxation methods such as the TENS unit we use here at Trillium Dental.

When you visit our Ottawa dental clinic for TMJ pain, our dentists will take an x-ray to determine whether there is an issue with your temporomandibular joints. We will also feel your jaw and ask about the symptoms you have been experiencing, whether that be jaw pain, a popping jaw, or any other kind of facial soreness. If our dentists believe you would be a good candidate for our TMJ treatment, we will schedule a separate appointment where we can use the TENS unit to your ideal jaw alignment. This allows us to create a custom mouthpiece for you to wear as you retrain your jaw into its natural position, thus reducing or eliminating painful TMD symptoms.

SCHEDULE A TMJ TREATMENT IN OTTAWA

At Trillium Dental, we regularly treat patients with TMJ disorders by fixing uneven bites with custom orthodontics. Contact us today to learn more about our TMJ treatments, or visit us today in Alta Vista, Kanata, Orleans, Stittsville, Stittsville West, Downtown Ottawa, or the Bayshore and Westgate Malls. We look forward to helping you live without jaw pain!

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Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, also known as TMJ disorder, is a very common condition involving persistent jaw pain and restricted movement of the muscles surrounding the jawbone. At Trillium Dental in Ottawa, we commonly treat patients with TMJ disorder and help them realign their jaw to its proper placement using a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) unit and a custom-made orthotic. This TMJ treatment allows us to identify your ideal alignment and create a personalized mouthpiece for you to wear in order to retrain your jaw into its natural position.

Though TMJ disorder is very common among adults, not everyone knows what the causes and symptoms are, leading many to live with it and not seek treatment. At Trillium Dental, we strongly encourage patients to visit our Ottawa dental clinic if they are experiencing any kind of TMJ pain, as this could be indicative of a more serious issue. In most cases, TMJ disorder is nothing more than a jaw misalignment, which can easily be readjusted with specialized dental care. That being said, here are some factors that may have had a role in your TMJ disorder.

CAUSES OF TMJ DYSFUNCTION

• Jaw injuries
• Jawbone deterioration
• Joint disease (arthritis)
• Bruxism (tooth grinding and clenching)
• Stress and muscle tension
• Dentures that are not the right size or shape
• Nervous habits, such as biting nails

According to the Canadian Dental Association, there are many causes of TMJ disorder, and each type of disorder has its own set of consequences. Those who experience pain in the muscles around the temporomandibular joint, for example, may experience different symptoms than those who suffered a jaw injury while playing sports. Nevertheless, some of the most common symptoms of TMJ disorder include the following.

SYMPTOMS OF TMJ DYSFUNCTION

• Jaw pain
• Soreness in the ear, facial muscles, and temples
• Popping or cracking jaw when you open your mouth
• Grinding or crunching noise when you chew
• Restricted jaw movement and trouble opening your mouth
• Headaches and migraines

SEEK TREATMENT FOR TMJ DYSFUNCTION AT TRILLIUM DENTAL IN OTTAWA

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of TMJ disorder listed above, such as persistent jaw pain, jaw popping, or restricted jaw movement, it’s worth a trip to your local dental clinic to find out whether or not you have a TMJ disorder. Contact us today to learn more about our neuromuscular dentistry services, and book your dental appointment today at Trillium Dental in Ottawa. We look forward to helping you live a life free of jaw pain!

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