Find the Root Cause

Fountaingrove's community of young families and professionals includes many people experiencing temporal-mandibular joint (TMJ) pain from jaw clenching and grinding, often stress-related. The rebuilt post-fire neighborhood attracts relocating professionals, tech workers, and others managing career transitions, all situations that can trigger nighttime grinding. TMJ dysfunction presents as jaw pain, headaches, earaches, or clicking/popping sounds when opening the mouth. The drive from Fountaingrove to our Windsor office is fifteen minutes, and Dr. Bonin offers both immediate symptom relief through custom guards and longer-term bite assessment.

From Fountaingrove, you'll head north on Highway 101 to our practice, where we can fit a custom occlusal guard during your appointment. These take-home appliances are worn at night, protecting your teeth and jaw joint from grinding forces and repositioning your jaw to a more comfortable closed-mouth resting position.

TMJ dysfunction is multifactorial, typically involving muscle tension, grinding or clenching (bruxism), bite discrepancies, or postural issues. Dr. Bonin performs a thorough assessment including jaw range of motion, joint palpation, and bite analysis to identify contributing factors. Radiographs or MRI may be ordered if internal derangement (disc displacement) is suspected, though most TMJ cases are muscular in origin and respond well to conservative treatment.

Custom occlusal guards are fabricated from a mold of your lower teeth and worn at night to protect teeth from grinding forces and relax jaw musculature. The guard is adjusted for proper fit and bite contact. Some TMJ cases benefit from physical therapy referral, stress management, or habit modification (avoiding hard foods, chewing gum). Dr. Bonin will refer complex cases involving disc displacement or severe jaw dysfunction to an oral surgeon or TMJ specialist, but most patients experience significant improvement with a well-fitted guard and home care guidance.

Fountaingrove residents, many managing career and family transitions post-fire, often experience stress-related jaw clenching that manifests as morning headaches or jaw soreness. They appreciate a practical solution like a custom guard that works while they sleep and allows them to address the problem without invasive treatment. TMJ dysfunction is common enough that many Fountaingrove patients have heard of it or experienced symptoms, making Dr. Bonin's straightforward assessment and effective treatment a significant quality-of-life improvement.