Chronic Pain

The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is responsible for allowing you to chew, speak, and yawn. Problems with your jaw joint can result in chronic pain that affects not only your jaw, but also the surrounding muscles of your head, your neck and even your lower back. TMJ disorders can have a range of causes, including genetic predisposition, injury or misalignment of the jaw, and teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism). You may find that you have difficulty chewing, headaches and earaches, tooth sensitivity, discomfort opening your mouth wide, stress, and arthritis.

Your treatment options for TMJ pain include physical therapy targeted at improving muscle strength and flexibility; wearing a splint or mouth guard to decompress your jaw; stress management techniques; and in rare cases surgery to repair the joint. When you have your evaluation with your TMJ doctor, you will finally know what is causing your pain and have a road map to pain relief. Your TMJ disorder will have a significant impact on daily function if left untreated. Don’t let chronic pain hold you back – Contact the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Temecula and Hemet about getting on the path towards effective management of your TMJ disorder.