Pain in the jaw and jaw joint (TMJ) as well as recurring headaches are very often caused by a bad bite—how your teeth come together. When teeth don't align properly, the jaw muscles and joints must work harder to chew and speak, potentially leading to strain. This strain can lead to jaw pain, headaches and neck and face pain. Another common reason for jaw and headache pain is teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism).
Part of Dr. Bensoussan’s specialty of prosthodontics is the treatment of jaw joint disorders (aka temporomandibular/TMJ disorders). He has considerable experience in it and uses state-of-the-art technology to diagnose the TMJ problem and to treat it.
Part of the TMJ is a small, flexible piece of cartilage between the skull and the jaw bone to cushion them. When this gets displaced, the bones of the jaw can rub together, leading to inflammation. Typically this will cause clicking, popping, locking and joint pain. It can also lead to headaches and neck pain.
In the first video you can see a healthy bite. The teeth are coming together properly and the TMJ (jaw joint) is working smoothly. When the TMJ stops working properly it can cause inflammation and pain in the joint. The muscles around the jaw may also overcompensate trying stabilize the joint, which can cause muscle fatigue, spasms and pain also in the head, neck or ear.
The main reasons for TMJ problems are:
When the teeth don’t align properly, it can cause the jaw to close unevenly, putting strain on the joint and the surrounding muscles. It can also shift the cushioning cartilage disc between out of position (see second video).
Chronic clenching or grinding puts repetitive pressure on the TMJ, which can lead to strain, wear and displacement of the cushioning cartilage. A lot of bruxism occurs while a person sleeps.
A less common cause of TMJ pain are structural issues such as uneven jaw development, arthritis and trauma. If you are experiencing recurrent jaw pain or headaches, you can come to our office for a full evaluation of your TMJ, bite and any bruxism.
Meet with Dr. Bensoussan and get an evaluation of your TMJ (jaw joint), bite and other issues that can cause you jaw pain or headaches. Our consultation includes:
It's only $79 for new patients!
The first step is a full clinical examination of the jaw joints and your bite. We’ll also check to see if you have been grinding or clenching your teeth.
Dr. Bensoussan studies the results and simulates what is happening with your TMJ and bite, and how to fix them. He establishes if the problem is primarily your bite, teeth grinding or clenching or strictly a jaw joint problem.
Based on what he finds, Dr. Bensoussan prepares your treatment. Typical treatment can include fabricating a special kind of mouthguard to put your jaw in the correct position or to prevent teeth grinding or clenching.
For issues with your bite, Dr. Bensoussan can correct your bite by repositioning your teeth with crowns/bridges or teeth shortening.
