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
Selim Alcı
2 weeks 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!
Rezan Derwish
1 month ago
My experience at Wellington Dentistry was excellent. Dr. Ahmed Derwish is very kind and professional. Marlena, who did my cleaning, was very skilled, and the reception staff were also very friendly and welcoming. Overall, the clinic is caring and cooperative with patients. I highly recommend them.
Shahd Babiker
3 months ago
I took my mother and my sister to this clinic, to be honest, all the staff were polite and respectful. The doctor was nice and explained everything about the procedure and he made them feel very comfortable before starting the therapy. I highly recommend visiting this clinic.
Thanks, doctor and thanks to the beautiful ladies in the front office.
Irene Mae Pacres
4 months ago
I had my 1st visit today for my dental check-up and since I don’t have an insurance, Dr. Wael Nabhan offer me to register the CDCP if I’m qualified before we do anything about my teeth. The dental assistant already done my xray and everything and yet Dr. Nabhan was so generous and informed me that the xray is free and he just want to help than paying because I don’t have insurance. And I’m so greatful and blessed for that. Shelby (dental assistant) was also accomodating together with the other lady helping me for registration . I’m thankful for them. Kudos to the team🙏
Ryad Tahan
6 months ago
I had a great experience at this dental office! I came in to get my roots pulled and also did a full cleaning. Dr. Wael was amazing—very professional, gentle, and made sure I was comfortable the whole time. The staff were super friendly and the clinic was clean and welcoming. On top of that, the prices are really affordable, which made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend Dr. Wael if you’re looking for quality dental care without breaking the bank!
Selim Alcı
2 weeks 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!
Rezan Derwish
1 month ago
My experience at Wellington Dentistry was excellent. Dr. Ahmed Derwish is very kind and professional. Marlena, who did my cleaning, was very skilled, and the reception staff were also very friendly and welcoming. Overall, the clinic is caring and cooperative with patients. I highly recommend them.
Shahd Babiker
3 months ago
I took my mother and my sister to this clinic, to be honest, all the staff were polite and respectful. The doctor was nice and explained everything about the procedure and he made them feel very comfortable before starting the therapy. I highly recommend visiting this clinic.
Thanks, doctor and thanks to the beautiful ladies in the front office.
Irene Mae Pacres
4 months ago
I had my 1st visit today for my dental check-up and since I don’t have an insurance, Dr. Wael Nabhan offer me to register the CDCP if I’m qualified before we do anything about my teeth. The dental assistant already done my xray and everything and yet Dr. Nabhan was so generous and informed me that the xray is free and he just want to help than paying because I don’t have insurance. And I’m so greatful and blessed for that. Shelby (dental assistant) was also accomodating together with the other lady helping me for registration . I’m thankful for them. Kudos to the team🙏
Ryad Tahan
6 months ago
I had a great experience at this dental office! I came in to get my roots pulled and also did a full cleaning. Dr. Wael was amazing—very professional, gentle, and made sure I was comfortable the whole time. The staff were super friendly and the clinic was clean and welcoming. On top of that, the prices are really affordable, which made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend Dr. Wael if you’re looking for quality dental care without breaking the bank!
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