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
arujuna kanagaratnam
2 weeks ago
Excellent dental clinic! The staff were incredibly welcoming and efficient, and the dentist provided clear and thorough explanations. The hygienist also did a fantastic job with my cleaning. The clinic itself is modern, clean, and runs on time. Highly recommend for a top-notch dental experience :)
Ameena S
3 weeks ago
My experience at Clanton Park Dental has been absolutely amazing, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone in need of dental care. The team is incredibly caring, kind, and personable, creating a welcoming atmosphere every visit.
Dr. Visaki Murugapoopathy is attentive, gentle, and thorough during procedures. She takes great care to explain everything in detail, ensuring I fully understand the condition of my teeth and the best practices for oral hygiene.
I truly appreciate the time, expertise, and care that the entire team has provided, and I look forward to my next visit. Highly recommended! :)
Christine christine
3 weeks ago
I dont usually write reviews but when i do, it could either be because i had a very bad experience, or i had an amazing one! Coming into this clinic i dont have expectations i just mentioned to dr. Vi the spots that are sensitive and that she might need to numb it because with my past experience with other clinic, i always feel pain whenever i had my cleaning. Guess what?? She didnt have to numb me at all, she has the magic hands! I feel comfy all throughout and she has been very patient in explaining with what options i could do with my teeth, i dont feel rush too. Dr Vi even went the extra mile and gave me freebie for a whiter teeth! Thank you Dr. Visaki i just found my new dentist! 😊 special mention to frontdesk Janet who was able to accomodate my same day booking and to the DA Angel who made me feel super comfy as well.
Rommel Erana
1 month ago
My family went to the clinic for our cleaning, and it was a good experience since we didn’t feel any pain throughout the procedure. They were very gentle and kept checking if we were okay during the process. Dr. Kowthemi, Dr. Visaki, and all the staff were very nice and approachable. The ambiance was neat and clean, and the waiting time was punctual since we had an appointment.
Amilyn Hugo
3 months ago
I came there today for tooth extraction my experience is greatly awesome. All the staff are accomodating and friendly. Dr. K did a great job for me she is very professional and I dont feel pain at all. Her hands are very lightweight and I feel relax through the entire surgery. She patiently explains everything about the condition of my teeth. Thanks Clanton Park Dental☺️
arujuna kanagaratnam
2 weeks ago
Excellent dental clinic! The staff were incredibly welcoming and efficient, and the dentist provided clear and thorough explanations. The hygienist also did a fantastic job with my cleaning. The clinic itself is modern, clean, and runs on time. Highly recommend for a top-notch dental experience :)
Ameena S
3 weeks ago
My experience at Clanton Park Dental has been absolutely amazing, and I wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone in need of dental care. The team is incredibly caring, kind, and personable, creating a welcoming atmosphere every visit.
Dr. Visaki Murugapoopathy is attentive, gentle, and thorough during procedures. She takes great care to explain everything in detail, ensuring I fully understand the condition of my teeth and the best practices for oral hygiene.
I truly appreciate the time, expertise, and care that the entire team has provided, and I look forward to my next visit. Highly recommended! :)
Christine christine
3 weeks ago
I dont usually write reviews but when i do, it could either be because i had a very bad experience, or i had an amazing one! Coming into this clinic i dont have expectations i just mentioned to dr. Vi the spots that are sensitive and that she might need to numb it because with my past experience with other clinic, i always feel pain whenever i had my cleaning. Guess what?? She didnt have to numb me at all, she has the magic hands! I feel comfy all throughout and she has been very patient in explaining with what options i could do with my teeth, i dont feel rush too. Dr Vi even went the extra mile and gave me freebie for a whiter teeth! Thank you Dr. Visaki i just found my new dentist! 😊 special mention to frontdesk Janet who was able to accomodate my same day booking and to the DA Angel who made me feel super comfy as well.
Rommel Erana
1 month ago
My family went to the clinic for our cleaning, and it was a good experience since we didn’t feel any pain throughout the procedure. They were very gentle and kept checking if we were okay during the process. Dr. Kowthemi, Dr. Visaki, and all the staff were very nice and approachable. The ambiance was neat and clean, and the waiting time was punctual since we had an appointment.
Amilyn Hugo
3 months ago
I came there today for tooth extraction my experience is greatly awesome. All the staff are accomodating and friendly. Dr. K did a great job for me she is very professional and I dont feel pain at all. Her hands are very lightweight and I feel relax through the entire surgery. She patiently explains everything about the condition of my teeth. Thanks Clanton Park Dental☺️
