How Dental Implants Can Help Alleviate TMJ Disorders
Posted on June 24, 2026
TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder) refers to a group of conditions that affect the nerve and muscles in the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). TMD can adversely affect quality of life by creating localized pain as well as radiating pain to the shoulders, neck, head, and back. TMD also often limits jaw movement, making eating and talking more difficult. Tooth loss often exacerbates symptoms by creating an unbalanced bite and facilitating bone loss in the jaw, which can increase pain, tension, and discomfort. If you have jaw tension and pain or have been diagnosed with a TMD, contact your local periodontist in Oshawa to learn more about TMJ treatments and your options for dental implants in Oshawa. Restoring missing teeth can help improve oral functionality and alleviate the stress of TMD.
At The Perio Centre, we provide both TMJ treatment and dental implants in Oshawa guided by our trusted periodontist, Dr. Adam Ohayon. Working with our team, you can regain control of your smile and life.
How Does Tooth Loss Worsen TMD
Your teeth help guide how your upper and lower jaws come together. When teeth are missing, that guide is gone, and your bite can become unaligned. This can cause the remaining teeth to shift, place extra pressure on certain areas of the mouth, and force the jaw muscles to work harder during chewing.
Over time, this imbalance can aggravate the temporomandibular joint, as patients often start chewing more on one side, clenching more often, or changing the way they move their jaw to avoid discomfort. These small adjustments can create extra strain in the muscles and joints, leading to more tension, clicking, stiffness, or pain that would benefit from personalized TMJ treatment.
Tooth loss can also contribute to jaw bone resorption. When a tooth root is missing, the jaw bone in that area no longer receives the same stimulation from the impact of chewing. As the bone changes, the bite can become even less stable. For patients already dealing with TMD, this can make symptoms harder to manage.
Benefits of Dental Implants for Your TMJ
Dental implants are designed to replace missing tooth roots with titanium posts placed into the jaw bone. Once healed, your implant can support a crown, bridge, or denture, which is a more stable tooth replacement than options that only sit on top of the gums.
For patients with TMD symptoms connected to tooth loss or bite instability, our periodontist in Oshawa recommends dental implants whenever possible to help by creating a more even bite. When chewing pressure is distributed more naturally, the jaw does not have to compensate as much for missing teeth or unstable restorations.
Dental implants are not a cure for every TMJ disorder. TMD can be caused by grinding, clenching, stress, arthritis, injury, bite problems, or muscle tension. However, when missing teeth contribute to the issue, restoring those teeth can play a significant role in alleviating discomfort while also supporting your overall oral health. To find out if periodontal treatment will support your TMJ treatment, book a consultation at The Perio Centre. Our team is experienced with dental implants, tooth loss, and TMD.
Protect Your Quality of Life and Oral Wellness at The Perio Centre
If you are missing teeth and experiencing jaw pain, stiffness, clicking, headaches, or difficulty chewing, do not ignore the connection between your bite and your TMJ health.
At The Perio Centre, Dr. Adam Ohayon assesses your periodontal health, bite, missing teeth, bone support, and jaw symptoms together. This allows us to recommend personalized periodontal and TMJ treatment based on the full picture rather than looking at one symptom alone.
Book a consultation today to find out whether dental implants are right for your smile and jaw health.