Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed conditions in dentistry. Many patients spend years seeing doctors for headaches, ear pain, or neck stiffness without ever knowing that the jaw joint is the source of their suffering. At our Ottawa TMJ clinic, we frequently see patients who have tried everything before finding us.
You may be experiencing TMD or a related condition if you have:
These symptoms of TMJ, if left untreated, can progressively worsen, lead to chronic pain, affect sleep quality, and impact your mental health. However, with accurate diagnosis and the right treatment for TMJ, most patients experience meaningful relief without surgery.
Each of us has two temporomandibular joints, one on each side of the jaw, that act as hinges connecting the jawbone to the skull. These joints work in harmony with a complex network of muscles, ligaments, and discs to allow you to chew, speak, yawn, and swallow.
When this system is disrupted through injury, stress, misalignment of the teeth, or other factors, it can produce a wide range of painful and disabling symptoms collectively known as temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
An imbalance in jaw muscle forces causing facial pain, tension headaches, and discomfort. The same nerve controlling your jaw muscles also triggers migraines — explaining why so many TMD patients suffer from debilitating headaches.
The cushioning disc inside the TMJ shifts out of position, causing the clicking, popping, and irregular jaw movement that many patients notice.
Arthritis affecting the temporomandibular joint, leading to progressive pain and restricted movement.
Dr. Haissam Dahan is an experienced orofacial pain practitioner who has dedicated his entire career to understanding and treating TMD, sleep-disordered breathing, and facial pain.
His credentials reflect a depth of focused TMJ training not commonly found in Ottawa:
A custom-fitted oral splint repositions your jaw to relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joint and reduce muscle overactivity. This is an effective first-line treatment for TMD, bruxism, and jaw clenching.
Therapeutic Botox injections into the masseter, temporalis, and other jaw muscles can provide significant relief for patients with chronic TMD-related muscle pain, jaw clenching, and tension headaches.
Myofascial trigger points (tight, tender knots in the jaw, neck, and facial muscles) are a common source of referred pain in TMD patients. Dr. Dahan offers trigger point injections to directly release these pain points, providing relief that can last weeks to months.
In some cases, short-term use of muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, or other medications can help manage acute TMD flare-ups or break a pain cycle, allowing other therapies to work more effectively.
For patients with severe TMJ joint inflammation or disc displacement, targeted intraoral injections, including intracapsular steroid injections, can reduce inflammation directly at the joint.
A structured program of therapeutic exercises and physical therapy strengthens the muscles supporting the jaw joint, improves range of motion, and reduces the risk of recurrence.
Stress is one of the leading contributors to TMD as it drives clenching, grinding, and muscle tension that overloads the jaw joint. Dr. Dahan’s holistic approach incorporates relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioural therapy to address the psychological dimensions of chronic jaw pain.
Because TMD and sleep apnea frequently co-occur, Dr. Dahan offers comprehensive sleep disorder care under one roof. For patients who suspect sleep apnea, we analyze it using the same technology used in sleep labs. If sleep apnea is confirmed, Dr. Dahan can fabricate a custom 3D-printed oral appliance for sleep apnea within two weeks.
Learn more about Sleep Apnea Treatment
Chronic facial pain, myofascial pain syndrome, burning mouth syndrome, and more, diagnosed and treated holistically.
From diagnosis to oral appliance therapy, a complete non-surgical sleep apnea treatment pathway.
TMD-related tension headaches and migraines treated with splint therapy, Botox, trigger point injections, and CBT.
The fee for your therapy will be based on the extent of treatment. During your first visit, Dr. Dahan will discuss the probable number of visits, their length, and the fees involved.
It’s our policy that your care is paid for at the time of treatment. Because of the nature of our practice and the kinds of cases we treat, it’s not possible for us to accept insurance in lieu of payment. We will, however, provide you with all the information required by your insurance carrier so that you may obtain any reimbursements due to you.
Please note that some of our fees are above the Suggested Fee Guide of the Ontario Dental Association. Therefore, it’s our experience that some of our treatments won’t be covered through standard dental insurance.
While there’s a definite connection between sleep apnea and anxiety, it’s often unclear whether the loss of sleep is causing anxiety or the anxiety itself is causing the sleep apnea. If you’re suffering from a significant amount of sleep loss, it can make it difficult to handle stressful situations, possibly leading to anxiety.
With sleep apnea and anxiety, it may also be a two-way connection. Patients who suffer from anxiety may be at a higher risk for developing sleep apnea. This basically means that if you treat one of the conditions, you may be able to alleviate the other as well.
If you’re looking for answers regarding your sleep apnea and if it’s causing you anxiety, schedule a consultation with Dr. Dahan. He’ll complete an examination and create a customized treatment plan for you that also may help alleviate your anxiety if it’s stemming from your sleep apnea disorder.
There are many factors that can cause TMJ. While injuries are known as a popular cause, other factors also include teeth grinding, missing teeth, certain types of arthritis, discoloration of the ball and socket of the TMJ, and genetics. To identify what’s causing your TMJ pain, Dr. Dahan will examine your entire mouth and assess the symptoms you’re experiencing at your appointment.
The duration of TMJ, also known as TMD, varies from person to person. Some may experience pain and discomfort from TMD for just a few days, while others may have symptoms that last years. If you’ve been experiencing symptoms of TMD, schedule a consultation with Dr. Dahan at our Ottawa office by calling (613) 454-1854. During this consultation, he’ll assess your symptoms and create a customized and comprehensive TMJ treatment plan for you.
Dr. Haissam Dahan at Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic brings a rare depth of dedicated training to TMJ care in Ottawa. He holds a clinical fellowship in orofacial pain from Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard Medical School-affiliated), a position at the Montreal General Hospital, and an active research publication record. His clinic focuses exclusively on TMD and sleep disorders, not a general dental practice.
Ottawa TMJ & Sleep Apnea Clinic is here to help. If you’re curious about our services and want to see what Dr. Dahan can do for you and your health, schedule a consultation. You can contact us using the form below or by telephone at (613) 454-1854. We look forward to serving you!