TMJ & Jaw Pain Treatment in Ashburton

Understanding TMD

The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull, and it works harder than almost any joint in the body. When it becomes irritated — often through clenching, grinding, injury or arthritis — the result can be pain in the jaw, ear or temple, clicking, locking, or headaches on waking.

The good news is that most temporomandibular disorders respond to conservative measures. Surgery is rarely the first answer, and we’d exhaust simpler options long before considering a referral.

What’s involved

When to see us about jaw pain

Book a check if you have jaw pain lasting more than a couple of weeks, clicking that comes with pain, a jaw that catches or locks, trouble opening wide, or headaches on waking.

If your jaw locks open or closed after an injury, call us straight away on (03) 9885 7588. Many jaw problems are linked to grinding and clenching, so we check for that too.

What happens at a jaw assessment

• Your dentist asks when the pain started, what makes it worse, and whether you have had an injury, headaches or ear symptoms.
• We measure how wide you can open and watch how the jaw moves.
• We listen and feel for clicking, and press gently on the jaw, temple and neck muscles.
• We check your teeth for wear, cracks and decay, and look at how your bite meets.
• You get a plan in plain words, including what you can do at home.

Simple steps while you wait for your appointment

These do not replace an assessment, but they may ease a flare-up.

• Eat soft foods and cut food into small pieces.
• Avoid gum, chewy lollies, biting nails and chewing pens.
• Support your chin with your hand when you yawn.
• Hold a warm, damp cloth on the sore side for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Rest your jaw with lips together, teeth apart and tongue resting on the roof of your mouth.
• Ask your pharmacist or GP which pain relief suits you.

When the pain is not the jaw joint

Pain around the jaw can come from somewhere else. A cracked tooth, a tooth infection or a wisdom tooth can feel like jaw pain. Ear and sinus problems can too. That is why we check the teeth first. For sudden, severe pain, see our emergency dentist page.

Jaw pain with chest pain, shortness of breath or pain down the arm needs urgent medical help. Call 000. Swelling in the face with a fever also needs to be seen the same day.

If simple treatment is not enough

If your symptoms do not settle, your dentist may refer you to a physiotherapist, your GP, or a dental practitioner with further training in jaw disorders. If clenching or grinding is a big part of the problem, our teeth grinding treatment page explains the night splint in more detail.

More questions about TMJ and jaw pain

Should I see a dentist or a doctor for jaw pain?

Either is a reasonable starting point. A dentist can check your teeth, bite, jaw muscles and joint. A GP can check for ear, sinus and other medical causes. If one of us thinks the other should take a look, we will say so.

Can jaw pain come back after it settles?

It can. Flare-ups may follow stress, illness, a cold, or a long dental visit with your mouth open. Keep using your splint if you have one, go back to the simple steps early, and book a review if it does not settle within a couple of weeks.

Can I still have dental treatment if my jaw is sore?

Usually, yes. Tell us before we start. We can keep the visit shorter, give you breaks to close and rest, and support your jaw while you hold it open. Long, non-urgent treatment may be better left until a flare-up settles.