(403) 382-2273

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice, and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the Alberta Dental Association and College (ADA&C), Health Canada and the Canadian Centre For Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS).

We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

To ensure the health and well-being of our patients and team members, we have installed 2 different types of air purifiers at our dental office. Both of these are manufactured by the Canadian company, Surgically Clean Air.

Both of these filters perform their duties without being loud, (an industry-leading low level of about 55DB) or creating a “breeze” that can be uncomfortable for our patients. 

Some additional changes you may also see when it is time for your next appointment. For example:

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice. To make an appointment, please call our office at (403) 382‑2273.

So come on in to get your dental work done and enjoy Surgically Clean Air! 

One of our Patient Offices in Cool Dental

Neck & Shoulder Pain

TMJ Dental Services in Lethbridge, Alberta

Man Suffering From Neck Pain

Living with neck and shoulder pain can really cramp your style

Your neck, shoulder, and back muscles work as a team. In fact, throughout your body, rarely does a single muscle work without other muscles in the team joining in.

Lethbridge dentist Dr. Lachman describes one cause of neck and shoulder pain: “Often, when muscles are overworked, they will engage additional muscles. This is known as muscle recruitment. The recruitment of other muscles creates an imbalance, which can result in neck and shoulder pain.”


Strained muscles can cause poor posture

When a muscle is overused, it can affect other muscles, such as the ones that hold up your head and  support your shoulders and back.

The bones in your neck, especially the atlas and axis, work closely with the muscles that control your jaw, breathing and head posture. Sore, tight, contracted muscles of the jaw can tilt the head and shoulders causing over-compensation of the neck, shoulder and back muscles.

Here’s how it all plays out:

  • When your head is centered, your spinal column is straight
  • Muscle tension can shift the head away from the center
  • To compensate the spine begins to buckle
  • Postural distortion develops as the shoulders and hips begin to tip
Photo of Rocky River

Suspecting TMJ Disorder?

Living with pain is hardly living at all.

Try this visualization

Picture a bowling ball balanced on top of a broom stick, and held in place by a rubber bands. This is similar to how your head is balanced atop your spine.

When even just one jaw, neck or shoulder muscle is off-kilter all of your other muscles must compensate to keep your head balanced on top of your spinal column. In this scenario, your overworked muscles can become strained causing sore, tender, muscles your neck, shoulders and back.


The issue with poor head posture

When an issue with your jaw causes chronic neck and shoulder pain, you may find go-to treatments such as physiotherapy or chiropractic care ineffective. This is because, as long as your jaw is out of proper position, the therapy often doesn’t have a lasting effect.

If the lower jaw is not properly balanced to the skull, symptom relapse can occur rapidly.

TMJD can cause a ripple effect throughout the top half of your body.  Correcting your bite so that your muscles can work properly can be the difference between living with muscle discomfort or not.


Will TMJD treatment help you?

Over time, the impacts of TMJD can worsen. If your bite is misaligned, the sooner it is corrected the better.  If you would like to learn more about treatment options for neck and shoulder pain, please schedule a TMJ consultation with Dr. Lachman.


SMILES TRANSFORMED

From dental implants to dentures,

see some successful cases by Dr. Karstan Lachman

before and after photo of patient smiling 1
before and after photo of patient smiling 2
before and after photo of patient smiling 3

More Before & Afters

lobby of Cool Dental in Lethbridge AB

Are you ready for a new dental experience?

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