Experiencing pain in your jaw? Do not wait to consult your dentist!

Where does jaw pain come from?

TMD pain can have several different causes. Contrary to what most people believe, the most common causes are not related to your teeth at all. They stem from problems with joints, the muscles involved in chewing or the parts of your body that allow your jaw to move. 

When should you seek medical advice?

As soon as you feel pain or limited jaw movement, it is advised to have it checked out by your doctor. The warning signs to look out for: 

• If you are experiencing difficulty opening or closing your jaw
• If the movement of your mandible (lower jaw) is restricted
• If your jaw joints are making an unusual sound
• Face pain, whether during movement or at rest
• Grinding or clenching your teeth (a process known as ‘bruxism’)

Should you have any doubts, we recommend quickly booking an appointment for a check-up so that the issue can be diagnosed. Many people wait too long before consulting their doctor, which typically results in intense pain that, by a certain stage stage, is more difficult to treat.  

How is jaw pain treated?

The first stage of the consultation aims to establish what is causing the pain. The dentist will talk with the patient in order to identify the probable causes of the issue, based on a questionnaire that covers several aspects of the patient’s life (and has been completed by the patient prior to the appointment).

The patient will then be clinically examined, and a radiograph of the jaw will sometimes be taken. The aim is to evaluate the situation as it currently is, in order to determine the appropriate treatment for stopping the pain as quickly as possible. Additional examinations may be suggested during the consultation, depending on the diagnosis. 

What are the treatments available?

The treatment will be determined based on how intense and chronic the pain is, as well as on the areas of the face affected (the pain can trigger headaches) and the potential cause of the issue. The patient will be offered a treatment plan to ensure that they recover as quickly and effectively as possible. 

One important thing to note is that if the pain has persisted for a while (e.g., for several months), treatment may be lengthy and require the involvement of several specialists: neurologists, psychologists, physiotherapists, etc. You should not wait for the situation to get worse. Book an appointment for a check-up as soon as you start to experience any sort of pain.