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
ddchilliwack
3 months ago
Saw them for the first time last week, I saw dr Darwish. News not so good, no fixingnmy tooth as its shattered, it is being removed. I have a dental phobia and he made me feel some what relaxed. and he explained things so i can understand them nice personality i even saw the xrays of the tooth and why it can't be fixed. Will go back if needed
Lorie Allison
3 months ago
Dr. Darwish and his staff are absolutely amazing. I had avoided dentists for over 25 years and recently I went in and had the last 9 teeth pulled and new dentures. He made me feel so comfortable through the whole process and got me in right away for any issues I had after. I am so happy with my new teeth and am able to smile again and have gained a lot of self confidence back. I am so grateful to him and all he has done for me. I highly recommend Wellington Dental.
Monesse S
3 months ago
I had my root canal and crown done at Wellington Dental, and I had a positive experience. Many dentists in London are great, but Dr. Nabhan really stood out to me. He was very confident in what he was doing, and his steady, confident hands throughout the procedure made me feel completely at ease. I don’t have dental insurance, so I paid out of pocket, and I must say the pricing was very reasonable.
I’m grateful for the care I received and would definitely recommend them.
Lillian
3 months ago
I always have such a positive experience here. I consistently get a thorough cleaning and examination. I used to have a lot of dental anxiety but the staff here are so wonderful, they make you feel at ease and comfortable. It’s weird to say but I enjoy getting my teeth cleaned now!
Shoutout to Dr. Nabhan, Shelby and Nancy - always so professional and friendly! I’m truly grateful and would highly recommend this clinic to anyone looking for exceptional dental care and the best, flexible hours!
Selim Alcı
7 months ago
I had an excellent experience with Dr. Wael at Wellington Dentistry! He was very professional, kind, and made me feel completely comfortable. He explained everything clearly and took great care throughout the process. I highly recommend Dr. Wael for anyone looking for quality and gentle dental care!
Front Desk Team
The front desk staff at Wellington Dentistry are amazing! They were so friendly, welcoming, and helpful from the moment I walked in. They made scheduling easy and the whole visit very pleasant. Thank you for your great service and kindness!
ddchilliwack
3 months ago
Saw them for the first time last week, I saw dr Darwish. News not so good, no fixingnmy tooth as its shattered, it is being removed. I have a dental phobia and he made me feel some what relaxed. and he explained things so i can understand them nice personality i even saw the xrays of the tooth and why it can't be fixed. Will go back if needed
Lorie Allison
3 months ago
Dr. Darwish and his staff are absolutely amazing. I had avoided dentists for over 25 years and recently I went in and had the last 9 teeth pulled and new dentures. He made me feel so comfortable through the whole process and got me in right away for any issues I had after. I am so happy with my new teeth and am able to smile again and have gained a lot of self confidence back. I am so grateful to him and all he has done for me. I highly recommend Wellington Dental.
Monesse S
3 months ago
I had my root canal and crown done at Wellington Dental, and I had a positive experience. Many dentists in London are great, but Dr. Nabhan really stood out to me. He was very confident in what he was doing, and his steady, confident hands throughout the procedure made me feel completely at ease. I don’t have dental insurance, so I paid out of pocket, and I must say the pricing was very reasonable.
I’m grateful for the care I received and would definitely recommend them.
Lillian
3 months ago
I always have such a positive experience here. I consistently get a thorough cleaning and examination. I used to have a lot of dental anxiety but the staff here are so wonderful, they make you feel at ease and comfortable. It’s weird to say but I enjoy getting my teeth cleaned now!
Shoutout to Dr. Nabhan, Shelby and Nancy - always so professional and friendly! I’m truly grateful and would highly recommend this clinic to anyone looking for exceptional dental care and the best, flexible hours!
Selim Alcı
7 months ago
I had an excellent experience with Dr. Wael at Wellington Dentistry! He was very professional, kind, and made me feel completely comfortable. He explained everything clearly and took great care throughout the process. I highly recommend Dr. Wael for anyone looking for quality and gentle dental care!
Front Desk Team
The front desk staff at Wellington Dentistry are amazing! They were so friendly, welcoming, and helpful from the moment I walked in. They made scheduling easy and the whole visit very pleasant. Thank you for your great service and kindness!
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