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TMJ pain & treatment Harley Street, London W1

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What is TMJ disorder?

TMJ Disorder can be treated through safe, nonsurgical treatments that often permanently solve the issue, so no one has to suffer TMJ disorder or its myriad of side effects. Surgery should only be recommended as a last resort.

Treatment for TMJ disorder is very patient specific and the exact cause of the disorder should be determined. Here at Harley Street Dental Studio, our experts will review your symptoms and examine your teeth, including tooth wear, restorations and position, your gums for their health and your bite and bite movements.

Treatments often start with a hard bite guard (known as a bite splint) to allow your jaw and teeth to find a more balanced and natural position. Once this is achieved, and your symptoms have resolved, a more definitive treatment can be completed for a more permanent solution.

This can include orthodontics (teeth straightening), building up, restoring the teeth or a combination of these. We can also offer neuromuscular dentistry, which focuses on the position of the jaw, teeth and the tissues surrounding it. Treatment for your TMJ disorder is usually handled by one of our specialist prosthodontists or directors.

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Anastasia Roumelioti

Very knowledgeable dentists (never recommend a treatment unless it’s absolutely necessary), peaceful environment and great overall experience….

Very knowledgeable dentists (never recommend a treatment unless it’s absolutely necessary), peaceful environment and great overall experience. The building is neat and clean, the staff are friendly and helpful. Would highly recommend if you are afraid of dentists.

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Somer Culhane

I have been a patient at Harley Street Dental Studio for a number of years, and to date my experience with every member of staff has been…

I have been a patient at Harley Street Dental Studio for a number of years, and to date my experience with every member of staff has been wonderful. However, I would like to highlight Dr Rejin Khafaf (and his nurse Chris!) who recently carried out some treatment for me. From start to finish he was extremely informative, reassuring and gentle. Going above and beyond to ensure my comfort, in addition to achieving a highly aesthetic finish. I aspire to be a dentist one day, and through setting an excellent example on every occasion, Dr Rej’s professional practice and friendly demeanour inspires me to reach that goal!

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Gail Archer

Great treatments from Dr Peter McQuillan – excellent results!

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Jan Parsons

Thank goodness for Dr Adam Thorne and Katharine Arnold my Hygienist. Katharine is so kind & gentle and totally reassuring. I thought I was going…

Thank goodness for Dr Adam Thorne and Katharine Arnold my Hygienist. Katharine is so kind & gentle and totally reassuring. I thought I was going to be in pain having listened to horror stories. Not a bit of it! No pain at all. Thank you!Dr Thorne is just amazing. My ongoing treatment has included extractions & temporary teeth which look so natural (so happy) and again … no pain, reassurance, total knowledge of procedures. What more can I say, if you want a professional, honest, creative dentist you can’t do better than this.

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Emma Cleverly

I had an appointment today with Dr Adam Thorne , I have been seeing him for years. He is an amazing dentist and a lovely patient person, nothing…

I had an appointment today with Dr Adam Thorne , I have been seeing him for years. He is an amazing dentist and a lovely patient person, nothing is too much trouble. The surgery has impressive covid procedures and it feels very safe and professionally run. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

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Farah Usman

Fantastic reception team, friendly staff & really worth a checkup if u need to visit a dentist.Peter was really nice and made me feel so…

Fantastic reception team, friendly staff & really worth a checkup if u need to visit a dentist.Peter was really nice and made me feel so comfortable, heard why I was there & then did for checkup & suggested what was needed to be done.Everything was really impressive great service & lovely staff. Highly recommended.Adam , he is treatment coordinator, helped me with the final bits. I wanted to know more about the surgery & he gave me all the information I needed ,he was super nice :)

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Camilla V.

I saw Peter Mcq and as usual he was kind, considerate and very attentive. He listened carefully to my concerns before recommending treatment. I…

I saw Peter Mcq and as usual he was kind, considerate and very attentive. He listened carefully to my concerns before recommending treatment. I highly recommend Peter.

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Alona Galahina

Just finish my Invisalign treatment , crown feeding, teeth whitening in Harley street dental studio! Very impressed and happy with a result! Need…

Just finish my Invisalign treatment , crown feeding, teeth whitening in Harley street dental studio! Very impressed and happy with a result! Need to say big thanks specially for Doctor Aneka Khaira! She is just grate professional! She is really care about patients, providing a best service! You always feel very welcoming, never rush, well explaining all your treatment plan; she is just amazing doing a grate job!Had as well hygienist appointment, unfortunately don’t remember a doctor name! But very happy with result and service provided! Best hygienist I ever done!Would definitely recommend Harley street dental studio as a excellent practise with grate specialists, providing outstanding service for there patients!

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It can be caused by:

An unbalanced bite

Bad and uneven bites, such as an overbite or underbite are the primary cause of TMJ Disorder. A bad bite can be a result of airway problems, allergies during childhood, thumb-sucking and tooth-loss.

Deformation of the skull

The pressures and forces exerted on a baby’s head during birth can affect the shape and affect the development of the skull. Misalignment of bones, muscles and ligaments can all lead to TMJ later on in life.

Injury, impact or trauma

When the human body absorbs a serious impact, it can alter the joints and muscles in your head, face and neck. This causes TMJ and its resultant irritation, discomfort and pains.

Unbalanced dental treatment

Dental and orthodontic treatment which causes asymmetry in the mouth can affect the bite and lead to TMJ problems.

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Two-phase treatment

Phase one – TENS treatment

Phase One: First of all, a TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine is used to relax the jaw muscles using a series of tiny electrical impulses and find your jaw’s natural most relaxed position. The TENS machine will therefore relax and de-programme jaw muscles that have been overworked. Other exercises can also be used to decompress the temporomandibular joint. We will then use EMG data (electromyography data), to relax and prove your muscles are relaxed using a measure similar to a Richter Scale. After this, we capture this most relaxed position using high quality moulding material and then realign your bite into its optimal position.

Custom-made orthotic

After this, you will wear a custom-made orthotic (an orthopaedic device used to correct an underlying issue with your jaw placement). It rests on top of the existing teeth, is clear and looks completely natural, but will provide almost immediate relief from the effects of TMJ disorder, something that will increase as your muscles get used to the orthotic device.

Phase two – relapse prevention

Phase Two: Once you are completely comfortable with your new bite, Dr Frey may recommend additional cosmetic dental treatment to ensure the results of your treatment retain and there is no relapse of the temporomandibular joint. The exact nature of this depends on your individual circumstances but could include orthodontics or a full mouth rehabilitation. There are a number of options and Dr Frey will go through them with you at the end of Phase One of your treatment.

Health concerns

Dental health concerns

TMJ disorder and putting off treatment can lead to additional dental health issues. The grinding and clenching of teeth caused by TMJ and bruxism can lead to worn down and fractured teeth. Due to the misalignment of the jaw, TMJ sufferers often favour one side of the jaw over the other, and this could cause unsymmetrical muscle growth or swelling on one side of your face, causing an asymmetrical appearance.

Tooth and jaw pain

With TMJ disorder, your teeth can more rapidly be worn than if your jaw is properly aligned. This can lead to wear on your teeth that is uneven, the range of jaw motion being reduced or loss and the recession of gums. If you have any pain in your teeth or jaw the root cause could be TMJ.

Neck, back and shoulder pain

The unaligned bite caused by TMJ disorder can have a ripple effect that affects your shoulder muscles, back and neck. Tight, contracted and sore jaw muscles tilt the head which causes overcompensation by the neck, back and shoulder muscles. This causes pain throughout the upper body.

Numbness and tingling in fingers

A misaligned bite can cause the nerves and muscles through your face, jaw, neck and shoulders to spasm. This in itself can cause pinched nerves that lead down to your arm, causing tingling and numbness in your fingers, hands and arms. Almost half of people who suffer with TMJ suffer these symptoms, and the numbness and tingling can vary in intensity.

Grinding of teeth and jaw

Slight grinding of the teeth isn’t necessarily a serious issue unless it is done unconsciously whilst you are asleep. This is known as Bruxism and can be very painful. It results in a worn out tooth surface, and sometimes even fractured teeth.

Posture issues

TMJ disorder can have serious effects on your entire body posture. When your bite is unbalanced, your muscle activity and the length of your muscles will be similarly unbalanced. If muscles are contracted too much it creates a posture that leans and slouches forward. This has a ripple effect throughout your body, which if not lined up properly can result in a decrease of the physical performance of the body. This can cause you to feel increasingly tired and sluggish through the day.

Facial pains

People with TMJ will very commonly suffer pain in their face. As TMJ disorder affects neck, face and head muscles, if a nerve gets pinched the pain can cause discomfort in your face. The bad bite that dislocates the jaw and surrounding muscles can cause pain behind the eyes as well as pain in the face.

Ear pain and congestion

Earaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears or a congested feeling in your ears can be traced to TMJ disorder. The misaligned jaw makes your ear canal sensitive and affects the muscles and nerves in your ears. This can cause vertigo, dizziness, pain in the ear, sinus pain, reduced hearing and a feeling of congestion in your ears.

Headaches

One of the most common complaints TMJ disorder suffer from, headaches are caused when the TMJ is out of alignment. This causes muscle tension in your face, neck and shoulders, which leads to tension headaches. They can also be caused by the build-up of blood pressure due to the muscles straining. Tension headaches can be extremely painful, to the point that they are often misdiagnosed as migraines.

Lockjaw, clicking and popping of jaw

If the jaw is not aligned in the proper position, it causes the TMJ disc to become displaced and the closing of the join spaces. This could result in popping or clicking sensations when you open or close your mouth. This can happen when yawning, or during biting or eating. In extreme instances, the displacement of the TMJ disc can case the jaw to lock if you open your mouth wide, which can cause problems with closing one’s mouth. This needs a doctor’s attention as it it’s a serious condition.

Tinnitus and ear issues

Due to the jaw’s placement directly beneath the ears, TMJ disorder can lead to hearing issues such as tinnitus, as well as damaged hearing and inner ear issues. Problems with the inner ear can cause balance difficulties as well as recurring dizziness.

Other medical concerns

There are other medical conditions that can arise from the effects of TMJ disorder on a patient. A number of patients will change their diet as a result of the pain and limited jaw motion by either not eating much or only eating soft foods and liquids, which could cause nutrition issues. The pain and grinding of teeth can cause issues with sleep as well, including disturbed sleep or insomnia.

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HSDS – Clip – Adam (TMJ)
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TMJ – Treatment Options for TMJ TMD with London Cosmetic Dentist Dr David Frey
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