Jaw pain is not normal.
If jaw pain is part of your everyday life, it may seem normal to you. The truth is, jaw pain is far from normal and may be a symptom of a condition called TMD from one or both of your TMJs. Those are the joints of your lower jaw, called TemporoMandibular Joints. When disease or misalignment occurs, the TMJ and surrounding area becomes inflamed — which is what causes pain and other symptoms.
- Headaches
- Earaches, tenderness around the ear
- Face or jaw pain and tenderness
- Muscle pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back
- Ringing in the ears
- Clicking, popping, or grinding jaw
- Difficulty chewing, yawning or opening your mouth
What are the signs of TMJ disorder (TMD)?
How do we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder?
Diagnosis
Treatment of TMD begins with a comprehensive clinical examination, to check your face, jaw, bite, joints, and teeth. During your appointment, we will check for pain and tenderness and listen for clicking or popping when you open and close your mouth, swallow, or chew. If the disorder is diagnosed, a bite splint or night guard is often recommended as the initial treatment.
Treatment and Relief
Our treatment application involves bite splints, which are custom-created plastic mouthpieces, designed to fit over your upper and/or lower teeth. These type of devices prevent the grinding and clenching that often causes or worsens TMD. The splint also realigns the jaw, removing stress on the surrounding area.
Alternative Treatment Options
If a misaligned bite or missing teeth are the cause of your symptoms, we may recommend orthodontics or restorative dental work. If your bite is placing undue pressure on the TMJ’s, we may suggest reshaping individual teeth to redistribute the bite force evenly.
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. If this joint becomes misaligned or inflamed we refer to that as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD for short.
Signs or symptoms of TMD include pain and tenderness in or around the ear, the jaw joint, or the muscles of the jaw, face or temples. Other symptoms are problems opening or closing your mouth, and a clicking, popping, crunching or grinding noise when you chew, yawn or open your mouth. TMDs may be linked with neck pain and headaches.
TMD is caused by a combination of factors like jaw injuries and joint disease, such as arthritis. It’s believed that bruxism (tooth clenching or grinding) and head or neck muscle tension may make TMD symptoms worse. Stress is also a possible factor. However, it is not clear if stress causes TMD or is a result. Other things that may lead to TMDs are partial or full dentures that are not the right fit and certain habits such as fingernail biting and pen or pencil biting. As you can see, there are an array of different causes which makes TMD hard to diagnose. The best way to understand your jaw pain symptoms are to book an appointment.
There are many possible causes of headaches. No doctor will be able to determine the cause of your headache without a physical examination.
Most often, TMJ pain can be treated effectively with non-invasive treatments and therapies. In very rare circumstances, TMD may require surgery. Your health and happiness are both important to us. We will always present you with all of your options, work through the safest and easiest options first, and give you the final decision on what happens next.
Google Verified Patient Reviews
Megan Elms
2 weeks ago
I had a dental emergency this morning and they took me in pretty quickly. The staff were very kind, especially since I have a lot of dentist anxiety. The procedure was virtually painless. Looking forward to going in for a cleaning.
Amber Bury
1 month ago
I cannot appreciate Dr. Nabhan enough for the great experience I had during my visit. I was anxious about my procedure but he made me feel at ease with his gentle and welcoming approach. He took the time to explain the before and after images which made me feel much better about everything being done during my visit. All of the staff were so kind and helpful throughout the entire visit as well. I would 100% recommend them to anyone needing dental work. Thank you so much
Ziyarmal khan
2 months ago
I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Weal as my child's dentist. Dr. Weal was professional, friendly, and very gentle with my child. The office was clean and welcoming, and the staff was helpful and accommodating. Dr. Weal took the time to explain the procedures and answer all of my questions, which made me feel at ease. I highly recommend Dr. Weal for any dental needs for children. Thank you, Dr. Weal, for providing exceptional care for my child!
Xena Elghazali
2 months ago
Extremely friendly and quick service!! I found that Wellington was the only dentist open on Sunday, so I called to see if I could bring someone in for an emergency visit. They immediately took us in and helped us out! All staff are super kind and friendly, and Dr. Wael is beyond amazing! He definitely went above and beyond with his work and hospitality, and I felt that I couldn’t thank him enough for his help and generosity. Would totally recommend this dentist to anyone, easy 5+ star recommendation!!
maral behin
3 months ago
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Dr. Ahmed, and I cannot recommend him enough! From the moment I walked in, his warm and welcoming attitude put me at ease. I was quite stressed about my dental procedure, but Dr. Ahmed's professionalism and gentle approach made all the difference. He took the time to explain every step of the process, which really helped alleviate my anxiety.
The quality of his work is outstanding, and I left the office feeling incredibly satisfied with the results. If you're looking for a dentist who is not only skilled but also genuinely cares about his patients, Dr. Ahmed is the one to see. Thank you, Dr. Ahmed, for your excellent care and making my experience so positive!
Megan Elms
2 weeks ago
I had a dental emergency this morning and they took me in pretty quickly. The staff were very kind, especially since I have a lot of dentist anxiety. The procedure was virtually painless. Looking forward to going in for a cleaning.
Amber Bury
1 month ago
I cannot appreciate Dr. Nabhan enough for the great experience I had during my visit. I was anxious about my procedure but he made me feel at ease with his gentle and welcoming approach. He took the time to explain the before and after images which made me feel much better about everything being done during my visit. All of the staff were so kind and helpful throughout the entire visit as well. I would 100% recommend them to anyone needing dental work. Thank you so much
Ziyarmal khan
2 months ago
I had a wonderful experience with Dr. Weal as my child's dentist. Dr. Weal was professional, friendly, and very gentle with my child. The office was clean and welcoming, and the staff was helpful and accommodating. Dr. Weal took the time to explain the procedures and answer all of my questions, which made me feel at ease. I highly recommend Dr. Weal for any dental needs for children. Thank you, Dr. Weal, for providing exceptional care for my child!
Xena Elghazali
2 months ago
Extremely friendly and quick service!! I found that Wellington was the only dentist open on Sunday, so I called to see if I could bring someone in for an emergency visit. They immediately took us in and helped us out! All staff are super kind and friendly, and Dr. Wael is beyond amazing! He definitely went above and beyond with his work and hospitality, and I felt that I couldn’t thank him enough for his help and generosity. Would totally recommend this dentist to anyone, easy 5+ star recommendation!!
maral behin
3 months ago
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Dr. Ahmed, and I cannot recommend him enough! From the moment I walked in, his warm and welcoming attitude put me at ease. I was quite stressed about my dental procedure, but Dr. Ahmed's professionalism and gentle approach made all the difference. He took the time to explain every step of the process, which really helped alleviate my anxiety.
The quality of his work is outstanding, and I left the office feeling incredibly satisfied with the results. If you're looking for a dentist who is not only skilled but also genuinely cares about his patients, Dr. Ahmed is the one to see. Thank you, Dr. Ahmed, for your excellent care and making my experience so positive!
