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
Thea Joy Negrillo
1 month ago
They really did a great job with my root canal treatment, and went back there for cleaning and tooth filling as the dentists are really good with there work! they even advised me what to do for after care. Very awesome dental clinic! It's definitely recommendable😊
Veronica Vaje
1 month ago
Honestly wanted to gatekeep this at first but I think they deserve the recognition - hands down out of all the 3 dental clinics I’ve been to around this area Clanton Park stood out the most. I requested for an appointment online, got a call back within 15 minutes, and I was in the clinic for an appointment 30 minutes after. I didn’t have to wait during the weekday and never felt rushed.
The facility is clean and modern, I liked being able to watch the TV on the wall and ceiling during the procedures (really helped me relax). You can tell their dental equipments are new. Second they’re really comprehensive - Dr. Kowthemi explained everything with me pre and post procedures including all of my teeth x-rays and imagings as well as what we needed to work on.
Apple Feona Dela Cruz - Coresis
4 months ago
The most pleasant and amazing experience I've ever had. The clinic is clean and beautiful. staff are kind and helpful.
I appreciate how Dr. KOWTHEMI takes time to explain every detail, plan, or suggestion she has for my teeth. She's very informative and helped me understand things that were going on with my teeth and mouth. Her work is excellent and thorough.
Dr. KOWTHEMI is patient, considerate, and gentle with me. I didn't feel any negative judgment from her, and that made me feel comfortable. Her hands were so light, and I could sleep while she's doing something in my mouth. My husband and I are now in good hands. Two 👍👍 and deserves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Balan M
6 months ago
I recently visited Clanton Park Dental practice to adjust the denture, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel welcome and at ease. The office was clean and modern, which helped alleviate any anxiety I had about visiting the dentist.
Doctor herself was incredibly professional and knowledgeable. She took the time to thoroughly explain each step of the process and answered all of my questions with patience and clarity. I really appreciated her attention to detail and commitment to ensuring my comfort throughout the appointment.
In addition to the excellent care I received during my visit, I was also impressed by the efficiency of the practice. The appointment started right on time, and I didn't have to wait long to see the dentist.
Overall, I will recommend Dr. Visaki and her team to anyone in need of dental care. They provide top-notch service in a welcoming and comfortable environment. I'll definitely be returning for all of my future dental needs.
Thea Joy Negrillo
1 month ago
They really did a great job with my root canal treatment, and went back there for cleaning and tooth filling as the dentists are really good with there work! they even advised me what to do for after care. Very awesome dental clinic! It's definitely recommendable😊
Veronica Vaje
1 month ago
Honestly wanted to gatekeep this at first but I think they deserve the recognition - hands down out of all the 3 dental clinics I’ve been to around this area Clanton Park stood out the most. I requested for an appointment online, got a call back within 15 minutes, and I was in the clinic for an appointment 30 minutes after. I didn’t have to wait during the weekday and never felt rushed.
The facility is clean and modern, I liked being able to watch the TV on the wall and ceiling during the procedures (really helped me relax). You can tell their dental equipments are new. Second they’re really comprehensive - Dr. Kowthemi explained everything with me pre and post procedures including all of my teeth x-rays and imagings as well as what we needed to work on.
Apple Feona Dela Cruz - Coresis
4 months ago
The most pleasant and amazing experience I've ever had. The clinic is clean and beautiful. staff are kind and helpful.
I appreciate how Dr. KOWTHEMI takes time to explain every detail, plan, or suggestion she has for my teeth. She's very informative and helped me understand things that were going on with my teeth and mouth. Her work is excellent and thorough.
Dr. KOWTHEMI is patient, considerate, and gentle with me. I didn't feel any negative judgment from her, and that made me feel comfortable. Her hands were so light, and I could sleep while she's doing something in my mouth. My husband and I are now in good hands. Two 👍👍 and deserves ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Balan M
6 months ago
I recently visited Clanton Park Dental practice to adjust the denture, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From the moment I walked in, the staff made me feel welcome and at ease. The office was clean and modern, which helped alleviate any anxiety I had about visiting the dentist.
Doctor herself was incredibly professional and knowledgeable. She took the time to thoroughly explain each step of the process and answered all of my questions with patience and clarity. I really appreciated her attention to detail and commitment to ensuring my comfort throughout the appointment.
In addition to the excellent care I received during my visit, I was also impressed by the efficiency of the practice. The appointment started right on time, and I didn't have to wait long to see the dentist.
Overall, I will recommend Dr. Visaki and her team to anyone in need of dental care. They provide top-notch service in a welcoming and comfortable environment. I'll definitely be returning for all of my future dental needs.
