TMJ Treatment & Jaw Pain Relief in Shrewsbury
Do you suffer from jaw pain, persistent headaches, or a clicking jaw? These symptoms may be caused by problems with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or bite alignment. At our Shrewsbury practice, we offer functional jaw orthopaedics – a specialist approach to diagnosing and treating jaw problems that gets to the root cause rather than simply managing symptoms.
Functional jaw orthopaedics addresses the relationship between your jaw position, bite, and overall dental health. Our experienced team can help relieve your discomfort and restore proper jaw function using non-surgical techniques tailored to your individual circumstances.
What is Functional Jaw Orthopaedics?
Functional jaw orthopaedics is a specialist branch of dentistry that focuses on correcting jaw position and bite problems. Unlike traditional approaches that may only address symptoms, functional jaw orthopaedics aims to identify and treat the underlying causes of TMJ disorder, jaw pain, and related issues.
The treatment uses carefully designed oral appliances and techniques to gently guide your jaw into its optimal position. This can relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joint, reduce muscle tension, and improve your bite alignment – addressing the root cause of your problems rather than masking symptoms with medication.
Many patients across Shrewsbury and Shropshire find that functional jaw orthopaedics provides lasting relief from jaw pain and associated symptoms that other treatments haven’t resolved.
Signs You Might Benefit from TMJ Treatment
You may benefit from functional jaw orthopaedics in Shrewsbury if you experience:
- Pain or tenderness in your jaw, face, neck, or shoulders
- Difficulty or discomfort when chewing
- A jaw that gets “stuck” or locks in position
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint
- Frequent headaches or migraines
- Earache or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Difficulty opening your mouth wide
- A bite that feels uncomfortable or has changed
- Worn, chipped, or sensitive teeth from grinding
- Facial swelling or asymmetry
If you recognise these symptoms, we can assess whether functional jaw orthopaedics could help you.
Common Problems Treated with Functional Jaw Orthopaedics
TMJ Disorder (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
TMJ disorder affects the joint connecting your jaw to your skull. Symptoms include jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds when opening your mouth, difficulty chewing, and jaw stiffness. Functional jaw orthopaedics can help realign your jaw and reduce strain on the joint.
Chronic Headaches and Migraines
Many persistent headaches originate from jaw tension and bite problems. If you suffer from frequent headaches, particularly in the temples or behind the eyes, the cause may be related to your jaw position. Correcting jaw alignment can significantly reduce headache frequency and intensity.
Facial Pain
Pain in your face, cheeks, or around your ears can result from jaw misalignment. Functional jaw orthopaedics addresses the underlying biomechanical issues causing this discomfort.
Bite Problems (Malocclusion)
An improper bite places uneven pressure on your teeth and jaw. Over time, this can cause pain, excessive tooth wear, and TMJ problems. Functional jaw orthopaedics corrects bite alignment to distribute forces properly.
Jaw Clicking and Popping
Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when you open or close your mouth often indicate problems with how your jaw joint is functioning. Treatment can help restore smooth, pain-free jaw movement.
Sleep-Related Issues
Jaw position can affect breathing and contribute to problems like snoring or sleep apnoea. Functional jaw orthopaedics may improve airway function and sleep quality in some cases.
Benefits of Functional Jaw Orthopaedics
Addresses Root Causes
Rather than simply managing symptoms with medication, functional jaw orthopaedics corrects the underlying problems causing your jaw pain and related issues. This provides more lasting relief.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Functional jaw orthopaedics offers an effective, non-invasive alternative to jaw surgery. Treatment uses gentle, gradual techniques to improve jaw position and function.
Reduces Chronic Pain
Many patients experience significant reduction in jaw pain, headaches, and facial discomfort. By correcting jaw alignment, we can relieve the muscle tension and joint strain causing your pain.
Improves Quality of Life
Living with chronic jaw pain or frequent headaches affects your daily life, work, and sleep. Successful treatment can dramatically improve your wellbeing and restore activities you may have avoided due to discomfort.
Protects Your Teeth
Proper jaw alignment reduces excessive forces on your teeth, protecting them from abnormal wear, fractures and other damage caused by grinding or a poor bite.
Holistic Approach
Functional jaw orthopaedics considers the whole picture – your jaw position, bite, muscles, joints, and how they work together. This comprehensive approach often achieves better results than treatments focusing on isolated symptoms.
Book Your TMJ Assessment in Shrewsbury
If you’re experiencing jaw pain, headaches, or other symptoms that may be related to TMJ disorder or bite problems, we’d be pleased to assess whether functional jaw orthopaedics could help you.
During your consultation, we’ll examine your jaw function, discuss your symptoms, and explain your treatment options. There’s no pressure – we simply want to help you understand what’s causing your discomfort and how we might resolve it.
Please call 01939 211150 or book an appointment online.
