TMJ and Your Overall Health
An accurate diagnosis helps us identify the best treatment option for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). At Cool Dental in Lethbridge, we start the process with an initial consultation with Dr. Lachman.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is responsible for several things. It makes opening and closing the mouth possible. It also helps you chew, swallow, and speak.
The TMJ is connected to the skull and can have an effect on other areas of your body. If you have issues with your jaw joint or bite alignment, your jaw muscles will need to work harder.
This leads to fatigue in surrounding muscles and the disorder can cause headaches or migraines, neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, and posture issues.
Diagnosing TMJ Disorders
Diagnosing TMD can be tough. There’s no single standard exam to find out whether or not you have it.
At Cool Dental, Dr. Lachman performs a thorough examination to determine the root cause of the jaw joint issue. We take into account your habits and lifestyle choices. And we also talk to you about the signs and symptoms you’re experiencing.
We then carefully observe and monitor these symptoms. We also take CAT scans of your teeth and jaw joints. We look into X-rays of your upper and lower teeth to identify how the jaw joint problem is connected to the symptoms you’ve reported, such as neck pain, muscle tenderness, and damaged teeth and gums.
This procedure also allows us to evaluate the presence of any underlying health condition or breathing problems.
Once we have completed your TMD diagnosis, we can proceed to customize a treatment plan for you. We recommend one or a combination of treatments depending on the severity of the TMD.
If the TMD is largely due to your everyday habits, making changes to your lifestyle can offer huge relief. However, if it’s a more serious case, we can recommend dental appliances such as the TMJ orthotic.
How Can Cool Dental Help?
Living in pain can significantly affect your well-being. If you’ve been enduring jaw pain or a bad bite, we invite you to visit our dental office in Lethbridge.
Through a comprehensive TMD diagnosis, we’ll find out what’s causing the pain and discomfort. Our dental team, headed by Dr. Lachman, will help you progressively feel better.
Restore the health and function of your TMJ system and reclaim your life. Contact us today at