By Dr. Curtis Westersund
TMJ Practitioner at Dentalife, Calgary:
If you’ve been dealing with jaw pain, headaches, or clicking sounds in your jaw, you might have TMJ disorder (TMD). Maybe you’ve noticed the discomfort getting worse over time, or maybe you’ve been ignoring it, hoping it will go away on its own.
I get it. Life is busy, and it’s easy to put off dealing with pain—especially when it comes and goes. But here’s the reality: TMJ disorder rarely just “fixes itself.” More often than not, the symptoms get worse the longer they’re ignored.
At Dentalife in Calgary, I’ve seen it happen time and time again. Patients come in after years of struggling, telling me they wish they had looked into TMJ treatment sooner. The good news? You don’t have to suffer with TMJ pain. There are solutions.
How Untreated TMJ Disorder Can Negatively Affect Your Life
TMJ disorder isn’t just about jaw pain—it can affect your entire life. When your jaw joint isn’t functioning properly, it can lead to a ripple effect of problems throughout your body.
Many of my patients tell me:
- “I can’t eat the foods I love anymore because it hurts too much to chew.”
- “My headaches are getting worse, and painkillers don’t help.”
- “I wake up exhausted because my jaw feels sore and tense all night.”
- “I feel like my jaw is locking up more often, and it’s really scary.”
The longer TMJ disorder goes untreated, the more damage it can cause. What starts as mild discomfort can turn into chronic pain, difficulty chewing, and even permanent joint damage.
Common TMJ Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
TMJ disorder doesn’t always show up the same way for everyone, but some of the most common symptoms include:
- Jaw pain or soreness (especially in the morning or after eating)
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when moving your jaw
- Frequent headaches or migraines
- Ear pain, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or a feeling of fullness
- Neck, shoulder, or back pain
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth fully
- A sensation of jaw “locking” in place
If any of these sound familiar, it’s important to take action before things get worse. Ignoring TMJ pain won’t make it go away—it will only make it harder to treat later on.
Helping Patients Find TMJ Pain Relief for Over 30 Years
For over 30 years, I’ve been helping patients at Dentalife in Calgary find relief from TMJ pain. Hundreds of patients have walked through our doors feeling frustrated, exhausted, and in pain—only to finally find a treatment that works for them.
The thing about TMJ treatment is that it’s not one-size-fits-all. Every patient’s symptoms and causes are different, which is why a personalized approach is key. That’s exactly what we do here at Dentalife—we look at the root cause of your TMJ pain and create a treatment plan that actually works for you.
How TMJ Treatment Works
The first step in treating TMJ disorder is finding out why it’s happening. Some people develop TMJ issues because of jaw misalignment, while others may have muscle tension from stress or nighttime teeth grinding.
At Dentalife, our TMJ treatment plans may include:
- Custom-made oral appliances – These help realign your jaw and reduce pressure on the TMJ while you sleep.
- Bite analysis and adjustments – If your bite is off, we can make precise adjustments to improve jaw function.
- Muscle relaxation techniques – We focus on reducing jaw tension and improving posture to relieve strain on the joint.
- Advanced dental technology – We use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to pinpoint the exact cause of your TMJ pain and create a customized treatment plan.
The goal? To stop the pain, restore jaw function, and help you get back to living your life—without TMJ holding you back.
Don’t Let TMJ Pain Control Your Life—Let’s Fix It Together
If you’ve been ignoring your TMJ pain, hoping it will just go away, I’m here to tell you: You don’t have to live like this.
The longer you wait, the worse it can get. But the good news? TMJ pain is treatable—and I’m here to help.
At Dentalife in Calgary, we specialize in TMJ treatment that works. Let’s figure out what’s causing your pain and find a real solution. Book a TMJ consultation today—because you deserve to live without pain.
Dr. Curtis Westersund
