Jaw pain is not normal
If you live with daily jaw pain, it might seem normal to you—but it isn’t. This pain is often a symptom of TMD, a condition involving inflammation or misalignment of one or both of your TMJs. Identifying and treating TMD early can prevent worsening symptoms and improve your quality of life.
- Persistent headaches
- Earaches or tenderness near the ear
- Facial or jaw pain and soreness
- Muscle pain in your neck, shoulders, or upper back
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Clicking, popping, or grinding noises when moving your jaw
- Difficulty chewing, yawning, or opening your mouth fully
Signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)
How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?
Diagnosis
Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) starts with a thorough clinical examination. During your appointment, we’ll assess your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. Your dentist will check for areas of pain or tenderness and listen closely for any clicking or popping sounds when you open and close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If TMD is diagnosed, the initial treatment often involves using a bite splint or night guard.
Treatment and Relief
Our primary treatment uses custom-made bite splints—plastic mouthpieces tailored to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These devices help prevent grinding and clenching, which are common causes or aggravators of TMD. Additionally, the splint realigns the jaw, reducing stress on the joints and surrounding muscles to alleviate pain.
Alternative Treatment Options
If your TMD symptoms stem from a misaligned bite or missing teeth, we might recommend orthodontic treatments or restorative dental work to correct these issues. In some cases, reshaping individual teeth can help redistribute bite forces more evenly, reducing pressure on your TMJs and providing relief.
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
TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, which connects your jaw to your skull. When this joint becomes misaligned or inflamed, it is called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMD for short.
Common signs of TMD include pain and tenderness around the ear, jaw joint, or muscles of the jaw, face, or temples. You may also experience difficulty opening or closing your mouth, and notice clicking, popping, crunching, or grinding sounds when you chew, yawn, or open your mouth. TMD may also be linked to neck pain and headaches.
TMD can result from various factors, including jaw injuries and joint diseases like arthritis. Bruxism (tooth grinding or clenching) and tension in the head or neck muscles can worsen symptoms. Stress might contribute to TMD, but it’s unclear whether it causes or results from the condition. Poorly fitting dentures and habits such as nail biting or chewing on pens may also lead to TMD. Due to the wide range of causes, diagnosing TMD can be challenging. The best way to understand your symptoms is by booking an appointment with a professional.
Headaches can have many causes, and a proper diagnosis requires a thorough physical examination. No doctor can determine the cause of your headaches without an in-person evaluation.
Most cases of TMJ pain are effectively treated with non-invasive therapies and do not require surgery. Surgery is rarely needed and only considered in severe cases. Your health and comfort are our top priorities — we will explore all safe and simple treatment options first, and you will have the final say in your care plan.
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