Jaw joint pain and clicking
The temporomandibular joints carry your jaw through a great many movements each day. When those joints, or the muscles around them, are under strain, some people experience pain that can be mistaken for something else.
TMJ and TMD in plain language
TMJ simply means the temporomandibular joint: the hinge in front of each ear that lets your jaw open, close and move sideways. Everyone has two of them.
TMD, or temporomandibular disorder, is the broader term for problems affecting those joints, the muscles that move the jaw, or both. It is not a single condition, which is why assessment matters more than the label.
Signs worth having looked at
- Jaw ache, tightness or tenderness, particularly on waking
- Clicking, grating or locking when opening and closing
- Discomfort around the jaw joints, temples or ears
- Worn, chipped or sensitive teeth
These signs have a range of possible causes, dental and medical. Having them examined is a way of finding out what is behind them, not a diagnosis in itself.
A jaw that clicks without pain or restriction is common and does not necessarily need treatment. It is pain, limited opening or locking that is worth having assessed.
How we assess it
We examine the jaw joints and muscles, check how your jaw opens and moves, look for wear on the teeth, and use imaging where it is likely to add useful information. Jaw pain often has more than one contributing factor, so we look at the whole picture rather than settling on a single label.
Jaw pain is not fully understood and is usually multifactorial. Clenching and grinding, stress, sleep-related factors and general health have all been associated with it, and their importance differs from person to person.
What may be discussed after an assessment
Any recommendation depends on your individual examination and history, and results vary between people. Where treatment is considered at all, we would generally start with the least invasive and reversible options that are reasonable in your circumstances, and explain their limitations, risks and alternatives, including doing nothing for now.
Many people are managed with simple, conservative measures such as reassurance, reviewing habits, warmth, a softer diet for a period and jaw exercises suggested by an appropriate practitioner. Irreversible treatment is not a first step.
- A custom-made splint, worn to help protect teeth from wear
- Reviewing contributing factors identified during the assessment
- Repair of teeth that have already been damaged, where appropriate
- Referral to a medical practitioner or specialist where a problem sits outside dentistry
Information, not advice
This page is general information only. It is not a recommendation for any individual, and it is not a substitute for an examination and a conversation with your dentist or doctor.
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Living with jaw pain?
Call us and describe what you're noticing. An assessment is the way to understand what may be contributing and what options are worth discussing.
Call 03 5989 2144