Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders affect the jaw joints and the muscles used for chewing. Symptoms can include jaw pain, clicking or popping, headaches, ear discomfort and difficulty opening the mouth.
Causes may include teeth grinding, stress, injury or arthritis. Treatment usually begins with conservative measures such as self-care, exercises, a bite splint and medication, and your dentist will decide if other care is needed.
Benefits
- Helps relieve jaw pain and tension
- Conservative, non-surgical options first
- Protects teeth from grinding
- Personalised assessment and plan
- Guidance on self-care and habits
What to Expect
- History and jaw examination
- Imaging if required
- Diagnosis of the likely cause
- Self-care advice and exercises
- Bite splint or medication where appropriate
- Review and further options if needed
Frequently Asked Questions
Common contributors include clenching or grinding, stress, injury to the jaw and arthritis. Often several factors are involved.
Most patients improve with conservative treatment. Surgery is rarely needed and is considered only for selected cases.
A custom bite splint can reduce the effects of clenching and grinding for many patients, though results vary.
