The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge connecting your jaw to your skull. You have two TMJs, one on each side, working together to open and close your mouth and help you chew and talk. TMJ disorders (or TMD) are often chronic and can gradually worsen over time, impacting your comfort and daily life. When your jaw is misaligned, it may trigger headaches, neck or shoulder pain, jaw clicking or popping, locked jaw, teeth grinding, or even tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
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Many of our patients experience teeth grinding, known medically as bruxism. While occasional grinding might not be harmful, frequent grinding can damage your teeth and lead to other oral problems. Stress and anxiety can cause this habit, but often it happens during sleep. It may also be linked to an abnormal bite, missing or crooked teeth, or sleep apnea. Because grinding usually happens while you’re asleep, you might not notice it unless you experience symptoms like persistent headaches or jaw soreness. If you suspect you’re grinding your teeth, talk to our caring dentist during your next visit. We’ll check your mouth and jaw for signs such as tenderness or worn teeth. Untreated bruxism may cause tooth fractures, loosening, or loss, sometimes requiring treatments like crowns, bridges, implants, or dentures. To protect your teeth, ask us about a custom night guard designed just for you.
Clicking or Locked Jaw
Your temporomandibular joints sit just in front of your ears and connect your jawbone to your skull, enabling natural movements like chewing, speaking, and yawning. If your jaw clicks or locks, it might be due to a TMJ disorder caused by injury, inflammation, or other factors. Normally, the TMJ works smoothly as a hinge, but when inflamed or damaged, jaw movement can become limited and painful. Some cases improve with lifestyle changes like avoiding gum chewing, managing stress, using a night guard for grinding, eating softer foods, and taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory meds. More serious cases may need evaluation and treatment from our trusted dental team. Surgery is rarely necessary and only considered when other options have failed.
Treatment
At your appointment, our experienced team will examine your teeth and jaw for wear and other signs of trouble. We use several diagnostic tools such as a thorough oral exam, panoramic X-rays, 3-D mouth scans, and high-definition photos to understand your bite and jaw alignment. Treatment usually takes one of two paths. The first involves orthodontic solutions like braces to correct jaw positioning. The second is to establish a healthy bite with a temporary appliance over 2-3 weeks, followed by restoring teeth with crowns. Early treatment of TMD is key to preventing further complications and maintaining your oral health.
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