TMJ Treatment

Jaw pain is the obvious symptom. The less obvious ones are what bring most people in: headaches that start at the temples, a clicking or popping sound when you open, earaches with no ear infection, or a jaw that locks briefly before it releases.

TMJ disorders have several possible causes. Clenching and grinding, an uneven bite, arthritis in the joint, injury, or stress that keeps the jaw muscles tight through the night. Because the causes differ, the treatment does too.

A consultation starts with an exam of the joint and how your teeth come together, plus imaging when it helps. We look at wear patterns on your teeth, jaw movement and range, and where the tenderness actually sits.

Treatment usually starts conservatively. A custom nightguard to stop grinding, bite adjustment where the contact is uneven, jaw exercises, and changes to habits that keep the muscles loaded. Many cases improve with these alone.

Some cases need referral to a specialist, and if yours is one of them, we'll tell you plainly rather than working through options that aren't going to help.

If your jaw hurts most mornings, or you're waking with headaches you can't explain, the joint is worth ruling in or out. Book an exam and we'll tell you what we find.

‍