Treatments Everyday and preventive care
Jaw joint (TMJ) and orofacial pain in Madhapur
Pain around the jaw, the ear or the temple can feel like toothache, and sometimes a tooth is the cause. Often it is the jaw joint, or the muscles you chew with, and now and then a nerve. At Align Dental these problems are seen by Dr Praneeth. But if jaw pain ever comes with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating, do not wait for a dental appointment: call an ambulance or get to a hospital emergency department straight away, because it can be a heart attack.
When to have it looked at
- Your jaw aches around the ear or the temple, and chewing makes it worse
- The jaw clicks, pops or grinds when you move it, and it hurts
- You cannot open your mouth fully, or the jaw catches or locks
- Your jaw or face muscles are sore in the mornings, or someone has told you that you grind your teeth at night
- Sharp, shooting pain in the jaw, teeth or gums that comes in short attacks, or face pain that carries on after a dentist has found nothing wrong with the teeth
What happens at the appointment
- When you book, mention the jaw or face pain, so the appointment is with Dr Praneeth.
- Tell him where it hurts, when it started, what sets it off and what you have already tried. Bring any earlier X-rays or scan reports, and a list of the medicines you take.
- He looks at what is causing the pain and explains the options before any treatment starts.
The jaw joint (TMJ)
The temporomandibular joint sits just in front of each ear and hinges the lower jaw. Problems with it are called temporomandibular disorders, or TMD. The usual signs are pain around the jaw, ear and temple, clicking or popping, headaches around the temples, and a jaw that is hard to open fully or that locks. The pain can be worse when chewing, and when you are stressed.
Grinding or clenching the teeth, wear in the joint, a blow to the face and stress can all play a part. For most people it is not serious and gets better on its own, but pain that keeps coming back is worth having checked.
Nerve-related pain in the face and mouth
Some pain in the face comes from a nerve rather than a tooth or the joint. It is often described as a sharp, shooting pain, or like an electric shock, in the jaw, teeth or gums. It tends to come in short attacks, and touching the face, eating or brushing can set it off.
Because it can feel so much like toothache, it is worth ruling the teeth in or out properly before anything is done to them. If the teeth are not the cause, a doctor may need to be involved as well.
What can help in the meantime
Until you are seen, these can help a sore jaw. Eat soft food for a while, and avoid chewing gum, chewing pen tops and biting into food with your front teeth. Try not to clench: apart from when you are eating, your teeth should rest slightly apart. A warm or a cold pack wrapped in a cloth, whichever feels better, and gently massaging the sore muscles can ease it.
Who you see for this at Align Dental
- Dr. D. Praneeth Reddy BDS, MDS (Orthodontics) ยท Orthodontist More about Dr. Praneeth
Common questions
Who sees jaw pain and facial pain at Align Dental?
Dr Praneeth Reddy. At Align Dental, jaw joint (TMJ) problems, aching jaw and face muscles, and nerve-related pain in the face and mouth all go to him. Mention the pain when you book, so the appointment is with him.
My jaw clicks. Should I have it checked?
Clicking is one of the common signs of a jaw joint problem. It is worth having looked at when it comes with pain, when the jaw catches or locks, or when it is making eating or opening your mouth harder.
Is this the same as jaw surgery?
No. Our jaw surgery page is about jaws that have grown out of position and jaws broken in an injury, which Dr. Surya Kiran Mudigonda sees. Jaw joint and facial pain are assessed by Dr Praneeth.
Should I see a dentist or a doctor for jaw pain?
Either can check it. A dental check looks at the teeth and the jaw joint together, which helps, because toothache and jaw pain are easy to mix up. Jaw pain with chest pain is different: that needs an ambulance or a hospital emergency department, not a dentist.
Worth knowing first
If your jaw has locked, or you cannot eat or drink, get it seen the same day, by a dentist or a doctor. If the pain comes with problems with your eyesight, or with frequent, severe headaches, see a doctor the same day.
If you are nervous about this, say so when you book. It changes how we run the appointment, and it is a very ordinary thing to tell us.
Related treatments
- Emergency dental care Help for severe toothache, a broken tooth, swelling or a knocked-out tooth.
- Jaw surgery and facial injuries Corrective jaw surgery, a broken jaw, and injuries to the face, mouth and teeth.
- Root canal treatment Treatment to save a tooth when decay or injury has reached the nerve.
