How does the treatment work?
What is gnathology?
Gnathology is the branch of dentistry concerned with the jaw joint, the chewing muscles and the teeth. Together these are responsible for correct chewing, for speech and for the movement of the jaw.
Which symptoms point to it?
- pain around the ear or jaw, often worse in the morning or the evening
- limited mouth opening, locked jaw
- clicking in the joint, with or without pain
- migraine, facial pain, numbness
- tinnitus, ringing in the ears
Possible causes
- trauma — even an accident from years ago
- stress-related clenching, night-time grinding
- genetic predisposition
- a poorly made dental restoration
- a bite that changed after orthodontic treatment
- constant gum chewing, poor posture
Treatment options
- Removing the cause — recognising and giving up the harmful habits.
- Splint therapy — a night-time splint reduces muscle tension and protects the teeth.
- Complex therapy — other specialists such as a physiotherapist or manual therapist may need to be involved.
The goal is always the same: to remove or ease the symptoms, improve quality of life and prevent further deterioration.
