The temporomandibular joints connect the lower jaw to the skull and work in coordination with the surrounding muscles and soft tissues. When this system is disrupted, the result can be pain, limited jaw movement, joint sounds, or referred discomfort in the face, ears, head, and neck.
What is TMD?
Temporomandibular disorders, often called TMD, is an umbrella term for a range of conditions affecting the jaw joints, the chewing muscles, and the associated structures. TMD is one of the most common causes of chronic facial pain and can affect patients of all ages.
Symptoms vary widely. Some patients experience mild, intermittent discomfort, while others deal with significant pain and functional limitations that affect eating, speaking, sleep, and daily quality of life.
Common Symptoms
- Jaw pain, soreness, or aching, especially in the morning or after eating
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds when opening or closing the mouth
- Limited mouth opening or a feeling that the jaw catches or locks
- Headaches, particularly at the temples or base of the skull
- Ear fullness, pain, or ringing
- Facial tension or fatigue
- Neck and shoulder tightness
- Tooth sensitivity not explained by dental disease
Our Approach: Conservative Care First
Research consistently shows that the majority of patients with TMD improve significantly with non-surgical, reversible treatment. We do not advocate for aggressive or irreversible interventions as a first step.
Instead, we build a personalized care plan from the least invasive options upward, based on each patient’s diagnosis, symptoms, health history, and goals.
How We Treat TMD
Self-Care & Behavior Modification
Effective TMD management starts at home. We teach patients evidence-based strategies for jaw rest, heat and cold application, postural awareness, and identification of parafunctional habits such as clenching, grinding, nail-biting, or gum chewing.
Splint Therapy
Custom oral appliances are among the most effective tools available for managing TMD. We prescribe and fabricate several types based on each patient’s diagnosis, including stabilization splints, anterior repositioning splints, Gelb-design appliances, and anterior bite planes.
Physical Therapy
We offer in-house physical therapy at three of our four locations, allowing seamless coordination between your orofacial pain specialist and physical therapist. PT for TMD may include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, dry needling, ultrasound, and patient education.
Botox Injections
Botulinum toxin may be used for masticatory muscle pain and muscle hypertrophy. Injected into the masseter and/or temporalis muscles, it can reduce muscle hyperactivity, decrease clenching force, and relieve jaw soreness or tension headaches.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger points are hyperirritable knots within muscle tissue that can cause local and referred pain. We perform trigger point injections into the muscles of the face, jaw, and neck to release tension and help interrupt the pain cycle.
Medication Management
Medications may be used as a complement to physical and appliance-based therapies. These may include muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, and other chronic pain medications when indicated.
Biopsychosocial Care & Behavioral Health
Pain is never purely physical, and this is especially true in chronic orofacial pain. We practice within a biopsychosocial model of care, recognizing that biological, psychological, and social factors all contribute to how pain develops, persists, and responds to treatment.
For many patients, conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, or chronic stress are not separate from their jaw pain. They are part of the broader clinical picture. Our goal is to ensure that every factor driving a patient’s pain is acknowledged and addressed.