Diagnosis begins with a comprehensive face, head and neck examination, including jaw range of motion, joint sounds and palpation of your muscles to find areas of tenderness/pain. Your dentist may also require additional testing which may include x-rays, CT scans or MRI to evaluate your TMJ.

No single cause of TMD has been identified. Some factors that have been associated with TMD include systemic disease (Lyme disease, tumors, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis), trauma (direct impact, whiplash injury, clenching/grinding teeth). Stress, anxiety and depression can also be contributing factors, but in most cases more than one factor contributes to developing this type of pain.

Talk to your dentist if you are experiencing headaches, ear pain, ear ache, clicking, popping sounds of the jaw joints, pain in the cheek, limited mouth opening, inability to open the mouth smoothly, or jaw deviation to one side.

Your dentist will complete a comprehensive evaluation of the face, head and neck, including a review of your medical, dental and pain history.

Your doctor may recommend an oral appliance or mouthguard, physical therapy, posture training, ice and heat packs, diet changes to rest jaw muscles, behavior changes and relaxation techniques.

Symptoms include pain and tenderness in your jaw, locking of the jaw joint, pain or difficulty chewing, ear pain, and headaches. If you have pain in the jaw, or if have you difficulty moving, opening and closing your jaw, or any of the symptoms described, talk to your dentist to discuss treatment options.

Most patients improve with a combination of non-invasive treatments such as oral splint/mouthguard made by your dentist, the application of ice/heat, soft food diet, relaxation techniques, medications including anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, and physical therapy.

We understand that sometimes your ideal treatment plan may not fit your budget. That’s why Worcester Sleep Dentistry offers affordable third-party payment plans with deferred interest through CareCredit or payment over time with Sunbit. This way you can get the treatment you need, when you need it, and pay over time with our convenient payment options.