TMJ Therapy

Dr. Bradley Oldfin – your Trenton dentist, offers
TMJ therapy to restore comfort and health to your jaw

Dr. Bradley Oldfin has achieved advanced post-graduate training in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, and Sleep Breathing Disorders. He has completed extensive training and multiple mini residencies in TMJ and Orthodontics since 2004. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Craniofacial Pain (DABCP) and a distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (FAACP) of which he has been a member since 2005. Dr. Oldfin is the founding member of the Canadian chapter of the AACP. He held a board position for 5 years of the Canadian chapter. He currently holds a position on the Institute Committee with the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.

Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder, also known as TMJ, is a condition that causes pain and dysfunction to the jaw joints and muscles that control the jaw movement. Do you hear popping or granting sounds when you open your mouth? Do you feel pain particularly in the chewing muscles or jaw joint? If so, you may be suffering from Temporomandibular Joint Pain or Disfunction.

Other symptoms include:

Radiating pain the face, neck and/or shoulder
Jaw muscle stiffness
Limited movement or locking of the jaw
Chronic feeling of tiredness
Ear symptoms, including hearing loss, ringing, or pain
A change in the way your upper and lower teeth fit together

Learn more about TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder).

What Causes TMD?

The cause of TMD is not clear, but dentists believe that symptoms arise from problems with the muscles of the jaw or with the parts of the joint itself. Injury to the jaw, temporomandibular joint, or muscles of the head and neck -such as from a heavy blow or whiplash- can cause TMD. Other Possible Causes Include:

Sleep Disorder Breathing
Poor Body Posture
Grinding or clenching the teeth, which puts a lot of pressure on the TMJ
Dislocation of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket
Presence of osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis in the TMJ
Stress, which can cause a person to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth

TMJ treatment may be as simple as wearing a mouth guard, but it may also require more steps, depending on the severity of your disorder. Dr. Bradley Oldfin will happily examine your case and discuss your symptoms. He’ll come up with a proper treatment plan to alleviate your pain and reverse your symptoms. Should he determine the need to get other treatment professionals involved, like chiropractors, cranio/mandibular specialists, or physiotherapist, we’ll refer you to potential treatment partners and work together to relieve your symptoms

What Our Patients Say About Us

“I was referred to Dr. Brad Oldfin, Riverside Dental Centre, Trenton by my family Dentist. The referral was for TMJ related pain.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis in both TMJ’s but the left is severe. Having had surgery on this joint in the past I was skeptical that someone could help with the problems that I was experiencing. What made it harder to accept was that I had experienced this severe pain for over 6 years and no one that I had seen could offer me any relief. Medication was a stop gap measure at best.

When I did meet with Dr. Oldfin I found he was an empathetic, knowledgeable specialist and he took the time to explain the problems related with TMD and the TMJ. As I seemed to check all the problem boxes for TMJ intervention Iwas wondering just how the appliances he had suggested would work in my
case.

Well after 2 weeks of wearing these appliances – one is a daytime appliance and the other is worn at night I was pleased to report that my levels of pain have dropped considerably. The appliances themselves were not hard to learn to tolerate and are easy to insert and remove.

My problems are not totally solved obviously, but these appliances have made a huge improvement in a short period of time. The differences that I am noting in such a short period of time are all positive. Day to day life is easier without so much pain to distract.

Would I recommend Dr. Oldfin? Yes I would. His kindness is remarkable and his knowledge about the structure, nerves and related tissues that surround the TMJ is extensive. I wish that I had been referred to him after my surgery 6 1/2 years ago.”

“Dr. Oldfin’s knowledge and expertise has literally changed my life. Anyone with TMJ issues would greatly benefit from his experience.

He is kind, caring and thorough in his approach. His office staff are friendly and efficient. I thank you all of you so much and am grateful to you Dr. Oldfin.”