Treatment of TMJ in Newcastle

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  • Woman with a Tooth pain — TMJ in Newcastle, NSW


Temporomandibular Joint syndrome (TMJ)

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) syndrome is a pain that occurs in the jaw. This can be linked to a variety of medical problems that stem from your oral health.

If you’re suffering from sensitive teeth, dizziness similar to vertigo or persistent pain in your head, jaw or neck, don’t disregard it.


Your symptoms most likely lead to a much larger issue with your health. Speak to a professional today to relieve yourself from pain.


The TMJ connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull (temporal bone) in front of the ear. These certain muscles control your chewing; they are also attached to your lower jaw. When this joint is damaged, it can lead to a localised pain disorder known as Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) syndrome.

WHAT CAUSES TMJ SYNDROME?

A general cause for TMJ has not yet been determined, yet many problems can arise from the muscles or parts of the jawbone itself.

Injury to the jaw has been the most common cause, such as a strike, knockout or whiplash. Other possible causes have been known to be grinding, clenching or putting unnecessary pressure on your teeth. Dislocation of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket has also caused TMJ syndrome. The presence of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and tightening your facial or jaw muscles due to stress are also known factors.


Diagnosing and treatment of TMJ syndrome must be done by a professional.

At Honeysuckle Dental, we will examine your jaw alignment and function. If we believe we need to run further examinations, then an x-ray may be required.


If it is apparent that you do suffer from TMJ syndrome, most of the time we are able to treat your disorder without surgery, a number of non-invasive techniques can be used to manage TMJ syndrome. Talking to one of the professionals here at Honeysuckle Dental is the best way to determine the most successful way of treating your symptoms.


If you would like more information about TMJ syndrome, click here to speak to one of our friendly staff or call on (02) 4915 9230.

  • Joyful Young Woman Undergoing Clear Aligner Treatment — TMJ in Newcastle, NSW


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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What causes the gap in between the front teeth?

    A condition referred to as diastema is caused by a mismatch between the size of the jaw bones and the size of the teeth or crowding of the teeth. Diastema is usually caused by:


    • Teeth are too small for the jawbone 
    • Tissue that extends from the upper lip to the space between the two front teeth is too big 
    • Bad habits such as thumb sucking 

  • My teeth feel fine. Do I still need to see a dentist?

    Absolutely. You see, while your teeth may feel fine, there are a host of issues that may still exist without you even knowing about them. The reason being that these concerns are almost impossible to detect on your own and require a trained professional to diagnose and treat them effectively. If we can find a cavity in its early stages it can save you the time and money of having to receive root canals, dental implants, gum surgery and other treatments. We also give your teeth a deep clean with dental instruments that are designed to reach places that regular brushing and flossing cannot.

  • What exercises can I do at home to relieve pain caused by TMJ?

    It is important to practice the TMJ strengthening exercises between painful periods as these exercises can make the pain worse if done during a TMJ flare-up:


    • Place your thumb under your chin and push your chin downward against it. Continuously open your mouth against the slight force from your thumb and hold open for 5-10 seconds, depending on how comfortable you are. 
    • Open your mouth as wide as you comfortably can. Place your thumb under your chin and place your index finger (from the same hand) between your chin and lower lip. Push inward as you close your mouth against the resistance. 
    • The stretching exercises can be done during a flare-up to help reduce pain: 
    • Touch the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue and open your mouth as wide as you comfortably can holding for 5-10 seconds. 
    • Touch the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue and slide your lower jaw out and then in as far as it can go. Hold for 5-10 seconds in each position. 
    • Slowly and steadily open your mouth and glide your lower jaw backwards and forwards several times. 
    • Looking straight ahead, glance to the right with your eyes only while extending your lower jaw to the left and holding for 5-10 seconds. Repeat with the other side. 
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