Jaw pain is not normal.
While you might have grown accustomed to daily jaw discomfort, it’s important to recognize that this pain isn’t normal and could be a sign of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). This condition affects one or both of your Temporomandibular Joints (TMJs)—the hinges connecting your lower jaw to your skull. Inflammation due to misalignment or other issues in these joints leads to pain and various other symptoms.
What are the signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)?
- Frequent headaches
- Earaches or tenderness around the ear area
- Pain or soreness in the face or jaw
- Muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, or upper back
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds in the jaw
- Difficulty with chewing, yawning, or opening the mouth fully
How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?
Diagnosis
The first step in addressing TMD is a thorough clinical examination of your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your visit, we’ll check for any pain or tenderness and listen for clicking or popping sounds when you open or close your mouth, chew, or swallow. If TMD is identified, we often recommend starting treatment with a bite splint or night guard.
Treatment and Relief
Our approach includes providing custom-made bite splints—plastic mouthpieces designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These devices help prevent clenching and grinding, which are common contributors to TMD. The splint also aids in realigning the jaw, reducing stress on the surrounding muscles and joints.
Alternative Treatment Options
If your symptoms are due to missing teeth or a misaligned bite, we may suggest orthodontic treatments or restorative dental work. To redistribute bite force evenly and alleviate pressure on the TMJs, we might recommend reshaping specific teeth.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and, most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
When the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) becomes inflamed or misaligned, it leads to a condition known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD for short.
Common signs include problems with opening or closing your mouth, as well as clicking, popping, crunching, or grinding sounds when you chew, yawn, or open your mouth. You may also experience pain and tenderness around the ear, jaw joint, or the muscles of the jaw, face, or temples. Additionally, TMD can be linked to headaches and neck pain.
TMD arises from a combination of factors such as jaw injuries and joint diseases like arthritis. Bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding) and muscle tension in the head or neck are believed to worsen TMD symptoms. Stress might also contribute, although it’s unclear whether it is a cause or a result of TMD. Other potential factors include poorly fitting partial or full dentures and habits like biting fingernails or chewing on pens or pencils. Because of the variety of causes, diagnosing TMD can be challenging. The best way to understand your jaw pain is to book an appointment.
Headaches can have many different causes, and only a physical examination by a doctor can determine if TMD is the culprit.
In most cases, TMJ pain can be effectively treated with non-invasive therapies. Surgery is rarely necessary for TMD. Your health and happiness are important to us; we’ll present all your options, start with the safest and easiest treatments, and you will have the final decision on how to proceed.
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