Temporomandibular Joint Treatment
Do you have jaw pain?
If you are experiencing jaw pain, it can come from:
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Teeth, gums (please refer to your dentist)
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Muscles: mainly masseter, pterygoids and temporalis
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Joint capsule: the temporomandibular joint
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Nerves
Causes of your pain
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Pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouthwide
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Headaches, pain around ears and eyes.
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Problems when you try to open your mouth wide
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Jaws that get "stuck" or "lock" in the open- or closed-mouth position
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Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth or chew. This may or may not be painful.
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A tired feeling in your face
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Trouble chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite -- as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
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Swelling on the side of your face
Symptoms
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Grinding or clenching your teeth, which puts a lot of pressure on the joint, it can happen when you sleep.
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Joint misalignment, uneven movements of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint.
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Arthritis in the joint.
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Stress, which can cause you to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth
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Previous injury, ie: whiplash, blow to the face.
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Dental work.
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Bad posture.
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Structural misalignment: maloclusion, overbite, underbite.