Jaw Joint Pain
Your jaw joints are located on both sides of your head, just a few millimeters in front of your ear canal. These joints become particularly noticeable when you open and close your mouth. As some of the most complex joints in the body, they are connected in pairs via the lower jaw. The position and alignment of these joints are significantly influenced by your bite. Therefore, it is easy to understand that any imbalance in the chewing system can greatly impact the jaw joints and lead to jaw joint pain.
Causes of Jaw Joint Pain
The most common cause of TMJ pain is an imbalance between the bite and the position of the TMJ. Each time you clench your teeth, the jaw joints are repeatedly forced into an incorrect position to accommodate the bite. This can result in to jaw clicking, jaw joint pain, and other symptoms of TMJ / TMD.
Arthritis is another potential cause of jaw joint pain. This inflammation of the joint itself can often be triggered by osteoarthritis (joint wear), rheumatism, infectious diseases, or various autoimmune diseases.
Pain in the jaw joint often radiates, causing headaches. Due to its proximity to the ear, it can also lead to earaches and tinnitus.
Dr. med. dent. Markus Spalek
At Alpine BioDental, we specialize in treating TMJ and temporomandibular joint pain. If you have any TMJ issues, we are here to help. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions – we are always here for you.
Treatment of TMJ Pain
Treatment for TMJ pain should always address the underlying cause. Therefore, a thorough diagnosis is crucial before starting any therapy.
Comprehensive clinical TMJ diagnostics, supplemented by advanced instrumental measurements, can provide initial information. Additionally, imaging procedures such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) of the jaw joints can offer valuable insights into the condition and cause.
Further information
Here, you can find additional information on the topic to gain a deeper insight.