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
Quốc Minh Phạm
1 week ago
Recepient staff is very welcoming and kind. The doctors are extremely professional and understanding to patient needs and situations. Dentist Ahmed is amazing, and my operation was done pain-free with him.
Highly recommended place for any denture needs.
Cameron King
2 weeks ago
Overall great experience! From requesting an appointment to squaring up payment with benefits afterwards, I have never felt less stressed about going and dealing with a dentist. Everyone there was so kind and very easy to work with.I mainly dealt with the hygienist Brittany and the Dentist which I can’t remember his name but both were awesome!! Brittany was very kind and understanding and took the time to answer any questions I had for her. She did very deep, well needed cleaning and my teeth feel a lot better. The Dentist was great; able to give me some great tips to help with some potential areas of cavities and better gum health and was able to do with a joke that got me to laugh. After payment, I was able to get another booking in no time. Highly recommend!!
Josh Williams
3 weeks ago
I can't say enough good things about this office. I went in last minute for an emergency appointment, and from the original phone call to the warm greeting when I arrived I knew I was in good hands. The dentist and assistant were both very professional, and you could immediately tell they cared about their patients. Numerous times checking in with me to make sure I wasn't in any discomfort whatsoever. All in all, I was very impressed with this office, and I would certainly recommend them for any of your dental needs.
sana shaikh
3 weeks ago
I had an emergency last night and the whole team at Wellington went beyond to help me. Starting from taking me in at such a short notice and being so polite on the phone (her name was Sahana) and helping me get the whole process done at the same time. Both the doctors were kind, caring and explained me the whole problem with no rush. I feel so happy that I chose this place. Thank you team for taking such good care of us! I would highly recommend Wellington Dentistry for an amazing experience!
Ziyarmal khan
6 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!
Quốc Minh Phạm
1 week ago
Recepient staff is very welcoming and kind. The doctors are extremely professional and understanding to patient needs and situations. Dentist Ahmed is amazing, and my operation was done pain-free with him.
Highly recommended place for any denture needs.
Cameron King
2 weeks ago
Overall great experience! From requesting an appointment to squaring up payment with benefits afterwards, I have never felt less stressed about going and dealing with a dentist. Everyone there was so kind and very easy to work with.I mainly dealt with the hygienist Brittany and the Dentist which I can’t remember his name but both were awesome!! Brittany was very kind and understanding and took the time to answer any questions I had for her. She did very deep, well needed cleaning and my teeth feel a lot better. The Dentist was great; able to give me some great tips to help with some potential areas of cavities and better gum health and was able to do with a joke that got me to laugh. After payment, I was able to get another booking in no time. Highly recommend!!
Josh Williams
3 weeks ago
I can't say enough good things about this office. I went in last minute for an emergency appointment, and from the original phone call to the warm greeting when I arrived I knew I was in good hands. The dentist and assistant were both very professional, and you could immediately tell they cared about their patients. Numerous times checking in with me to make sure I wasn't in any discomfort whatsoever. All in all, I was very impressed with this office, and I would certainly recommend them for any of your dental needs.
sana shaikh
3 weeks ago
I had an emergency last night and the whole team at Wellington went beyond to help me. Starting from taking me in at such a short notice and being so polite on the phone (her name was Sahana) and helping me get the whole process done at the same time. Both the doctors were kind, caring and explained me the whole problem with no rush. I feel so happy that I chose this place. Thank you team for taking such good care of us! I would highly recommend Wellington Dentistry for an amazing experience!
Ziyarmal khan
6 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!
