Category: Orofacial Pain

Is a Medical Condition Causing Your TMJ Pain?

Why some jaw pain doesn’t improve with typical TMJ treatment, and what else might be going on in your body

Can a medical condition cause TMJ pain?

Yes. Conditions such as autoimmune disease, thyroid disorders, anemia, and Lyme disease can all contribute to jaw pain and TMJ symptoms, especially when standard TMJ treatment has not helped. Identifying these underlying causes is often the key to relief.

You wake up with jaw pain that feels different this time. It is in both sides of your jaw, not just one. Your jaw feels stiff in the morning, almost like your hands or knees do on a bad day. You are tired in a way that sleep does not seem to fix. And the nightguard your dentist gave you, the one that was supposed to help, has not made much of a difference.

If this sounds familiar, you are not imagining it, and you are not alone. Most jaw pain is exactly what it appears to be: a TMJ problem caused by clenching, grinding, stress, or a past injury. But for a smaller group of patients, jaw pain is one piece of a larger puzzle, one that involves the rest of the body.

You Deserve to Be Taken Seriously

If you have already tried a nightguard, physical therapy, or other standard TMJ treatments and your symptoms are not improving the way they should, that does not mean the pain is in your head. It often means there is more to the story.

At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, we treat TMJ disorders every day, and part of that work is recognizing when jaw pain is connected to something happening elsewhere in the body. Conditions like autoimmune disease, thyroid problems, anemia, and Lyme disease can all contribute to jaw pain, and they are often missed because no one has connected the dots between your jaw and the rest of your health.

Can a medical condition cause TMJ pain?

Why Your Jaw Muscles May Be the Messenger, Not the Problem

Jaw muscle pain is often a question of oxygen. Muscles that do not get enough oxygen-rich blood build up waste products that irritate nerve endings, and that irritation is what you feel as pain, aching, or fatigue in the jaw.

Two common but often overlooked issues can starve your jaw muscles of the oxygen they need.

A nervous system stuck in overdrive. Chronic stress, anxiety, or poor sleep can keep your body in a constant low-grade fight-or-flight state. One effect of that state is that blood vessels throughout the body, including in the jaw, narrow slightly and reduce blood flow to the muscles you use every day to chew, talk, and yawn.

Anemia. When your blood carries less oxygen than it should, often because of low iron, vitamin B12, or folate, your muscles fatigue and ache more easily with normal use, including the muscles of your jaw. Anemia is common and frequently goes undiagnosed until someone connects it to symptoms like this.

If your jaw pain feels disproportionate to what is actually going on in your bite or your stress level, a simple blood test checking your iron, vitamin B12, and folate levels can be a useful and inexpensive place to start.

Can Autoimmune Conditions Cause Jaw Pain?

Certain autoimmune and inflammatory conditions can directly affect the jaw joint and the muscles around it, sometimes before they are ever diagnosed.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis causes inflammation in the joints, and the jaw joint is not immune. If you are noticing pain on both sides of your jaw, morning stiffness, and joint pain in your hands or wrists, it is worth mentioning this combination to your physician, since blood tests can help confirm or rule out rheumatoid involvement.

Lupus

Lupus is a condition that creates inflammation throughout the body, and that inflammation can make the entire pain system, including your jaw, more sensitive. Lupus does not always come with the well-known butterfly rash, which is part of why it can be missed. Fatigue, joint pain, and sensitivity to sunlight alongside jaw pain are worth raising with your doctor.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis can affect the jaw joint as well, and it sometimes shows up before any skin symptoms appear. This is one reason jaw pain connected to psoriatic arthritis can be especially easy to overlook.

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

This is one of the most common conditions we see connected to jaw pain in our female patients in particular. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis slows down your thyroid, and an underactive thyroid can lead to muscle aches, joint stiffness, fatigue, and poor-quality sleep, all of which can make jaw pain worse and harder to resolve. Even thyroid levels that look technically normal on paper can still be working against you if they are not optimized for how you feel.

Can Lyme Disease Cause Jaw Pain?

If you live on Long Island, in Westchester County, or anywhere in the surrounding region, this section matters to you specifically. The northeast is the highest Lyme disease region in the country, and Lyme disease can cause joint pain, including in the jaw, sometimes without the classic bullseye rash or even a memory of a tick bite.

If you are dealing with jaw pain alongside fatigue or pain in other joints, and you spend time outdoors in our area, it is worth asking your doctor about Lyme testing, even if nothing about a tick bite comes to mind.

Signs your jaw pain may be connected to a medical condition, including pain on both sides, joint involvement, morning stiffness, fatigue, symptoms after illness, and lack of response to standard TMJ treatment — If several of these apply to you, a broader medical evaluation may be the missing piece in your care.

You Are Not Starting From Scratch

Finding out that something beyond your jaw may be contributing to your pain is not bad news. It is often the missing piece that finally makes your symptoms make sense, and the first real step toward a plan that actually works for you.

Orofacial pain specialists take the time to look at the whole picture, not just your jaw in isolation. When they suspect something systemic may be involved, they will collaborate closely with your physician, rheumatologist, or other specialists so that your care is coordinated rather than fragmented.

Are You Experiencing Jaw Pain That Isn't Responding to Treatment in the NYC Metropolitan Area?

If you’re in the New York City metropolitan area and you’ve been dealing with jaw pain that hasn’t improved with standard treatment, you deserve answers, not just temporary relief.

At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, we specialize exclusively in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders and orofacial pain. We take time to identify the true cause of your symptoms and build a treatment plan that directly addresses it, including coordinating with your physician when a medical condition may be contributing to your pain.

We have 4 locations: Midtown Manhattan, White Plains, Hauppauge, and Springfield, NJ.

About the Author

Dr. Donald R. Tanenbaum is a board-certified specialist who has dedicated his 40-year career to diagnosing and treating Orofacial Pain, TMD/TMJ, headache, and sleep-related breathing disorders. He practices in our Manhattan and Hauppauge offices.

Our Practice →

Treatments We Provide →

What to Expect at Your First Visit →

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Conditions That Can Cause TMJ Pain

Can autoimmune diseases cause TMJ pain?
Yes. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can all contribute to jaw pain, jaw joint inflammation, and muscle dysfunction. In some cases, jaw symptoms appear before the underlying condition is even diagnosed.

Can anemia cause jaw muscle pain?
Yes. Anemia reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can deliver to muscles, including your jaw muscles, which can lead to fatigue, cramping, and aching with normal use like chewing or talking.

Can Lyme disease affect the jaw joint?
Yes. Lyme disease can cause joint pain, including in the jaw joint, and this is a particular concern for patients in Long Island, Westchester County, and other parts of the northeastern United States where Lyme disease is common.

How do I know if my jaw pain is connected to a medical condition?
Some signs to watch for include pain on both sides of the jaw, involvement of other joints, morning stiffness, ongoing fatigue, symptoms that began after an illness, or jaw pain that has not responded to standard TMJ treatment. If any of these sound familiar, it is worth discussing a broader medical evaluation with your provider.

What should I do if I think something more than TMJ is going on?
Start by talking with your dentist, physician, or an orofacial pain specialist. A thorough evaluation, sometimes including blood work, can help determine whether a medical condition is contributing to your jaw pain and guide you toward the right treatment plan.

Tags Facial Pain, Orofacial Pain, TMJ/TMD

Children & TMJ Orofacial Pain

Jaw Pain in Your Teenager: What Parents Need to Know About Evaluation and Treatment

Post author By John E. Dinan, DMD MS
Post date June 15, 2026
No Comments on Jaw Pain in Your Teenager: What Parents Need to Know About Evaluation and Treatment

If your teenager has been dealing with jaw pain, headaches, or clicking in the jaw, you have probably already been to the dentist. You may have seen a pediatrician or an ENT as well. And you may have come away with a nightguard, a referral, or simply reassurance that things would improve on their own.

When that hasn’t happened, the question becomes: what should evaluation and treatment actually look like?

In our practice, which serves families from Manhattan, Westchester County, Long Island, and northern New Jersey, these are among the most common questions we hear from parents navigating this process for the first time.

Part 1 of this guide covers the reasons TMJ problems so often begin during the teen years. This post focuses on what comes next: what a proper evaluation involves, how TMJ disorders are treated in adolescents, and what you can expect from specialized care.

Read Part 1 to learn the main reasons for TMJ in teens.

What Is Different About a TMJ Evaluation Compared to a Regular Dental Visit?

A TMJ evaluation conducted by an orofacial pain specialist looks at far more than teeth and bite alignment. It is a comprehensive assessment of everything that may be contributing to your child’s symptoms.

That means the conversation comes first. Before any physical examination, a thorough specialist will want to understand your child’s full history: when the symptoms began, how they have changed over time, what makes them better or worse, what treatments have already been tried, and what is going on in their life right now. Sleep patterns, stress levels, school demands, athletic schedules, medications, and orthodontic history are all relevant.

This is not incidental. In TMJ care, the context of your child’s life is often as diagnostically important as the clinical findings. Two teenagers can have identical joint findings on imaging and have completely different treatment needs based on what is driving their symptoms. That context is what we are looking for.

What Does the Physical Examination Involve?

A thorough TMJ evaluation goes well beyond a standard dental exam. The specialist examines jaw muscle tenderness, range of motion, joint mechanics, and disc position, alongside a full review of sleep, stress, medications, and orthodontic history. Many families tell us it is the first time anyone has looked at the complete picture.

Once the history is established, the specialist will conduct a structured physical exam. This typically includes assessment of how wide the mouth opens, whether the jaw deviates to one side during opening, palpation of the jaw muscles and surrounding structures to identify areas of tenderness, and evaluation of the joint itself for clicking, popping, or restricted movement.

The muscles of the face, jaw, neck, and temples are examined carefully, since many TMJ symptoms originate in the muscles rather than the joint itself. A teenager who has been clenching heavily due to stress or medication side effects may have significant muscle tenderness that explains much of their pain. Finding that is often a turning point for families who have been searching for answers for a long time.

Imaging may also be part of the evaluation. Panoramic X-rays provide a broad overview of the jaw structures. In cases where more detail is needed, cone beam CT or MRI may be recommended to assess the joint anatomy and disc position more precisely.

If this feels more thorough than anything your child has experienced at a routine dental visit, that is by design. Most parents tell us it is the first time anyone has looked at the full picture.

Why Does the Specialist Ask So Many Questions About Life Outside the Jaw?

This is something parents often notice and occasionally find puzzling. The answer is that TMJ disorders in teenagers are rarely caused by a single structural problem. They develop when multiple contributing factors converge.

A teenager who is under significant academic pressure, sleeping poorly, taking an SSRI for anxiety, and wearing clear aligners is dealing with four separate inputs that all increase jaw muscle activity or joint stress. Treating only the joint, without recognizing those inputs, is likely to produce limited or temporary results.

The orofacial pain approach asks: what is going on in this child’s life that is contributing to this? That question shapes the entire treatment plan.

For adolescents in the New York City metropolitan area, where academic demands are intense and schedules leave little room for recovery, these contributing factors are especially common. Understanding which ones are active in your child’s life is what makes treatment effective rather than generic.

How Is TMJ Treated in Teenagers?

Most parents are surprised to find that treatment is less complicated than they expected, and that the most effective first steps are often the least invasive.

Behavioral guidance and habit modification are typically the foundation of treatment. This includes instruction in jaw relaxation techniques, guidance on reducing parafunctional habits like clenching and tooth contact during the day, and education about sleep positioning and screen use before bed. These changes are evidence-based and can produce significant symptom improvement on their own.

Physical therapy is frequently recommended, particularly when muscle tightness or restricted jaw opening is a significant part of the picture. A physical therapist trained in orofacial conditions can work on jaw mobility, muscle release, and postural factors that contribute to jaw loading.

Oral appliance therapy involves a custom-fitted device worn over the teeth, most commonly during sleep, that reduces muscle activity and protects the joint from the forces of clenching and grinding. For teenagers in active orthodontic treatment, the timing and design of any appliance needs to be coordinated carefully with the orthodontist.

Medication management is used when appropriate. This may include short-term anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxants, or other targeted therapies depending on what is driving the symptoms. In teenagers on SSRIs or stimulants whose jaw symptoms are clearly medication-related, communication with the prescribing physician about possible adjustments is part of the plan.

Collaborative care is often necessary. TMJ disorders in teenagers frequently intersect with migraine, sleep problems, anxiety, and orthodontic treatment. An orofacial pain specialist who works in coordination with neurologists, sleep specialists, mental health providers, and orthodontists produces better outcomes than any single provider working in isolation.

More advanced interventions, including injections such as trigger point therapy or botulinum toxin, are available when conservative approaches have not produced sufficient relief. These are not the starting point, but they are part of the toolkit when needed.

How Long Does TMJ Treatment Last for a Teenager?

There is no single answer, because treatment length depends on what is driving the symptoms and how many contributing factors are present.

For teenagers with primarily muscular symptoms and identifiable triggers such as stress, poor sleep, or medication side effects, meaningful improvement often occurs within weeks of beginning behavioral changes and conservative therapy.

For teenagers with disc displacement, more complex joint involvement, or multiple overlapping conditions such as TMJ and migraine together, treatment is longer and requires more coordination. Progress is typically gradual and non-linear. Flare-ups can occur and do not necessarily mean treatment is failing. That is worth knowing going in, so that a difficult week does not feel like the plan is not working.

In our practice, we regularly see teenagers who have been dealing with jaw pain for months or even years before finding their way to a specialist. The earlier your child is evaluated, the better the outcome tends to be. Symptoms that are caught early are significantly easier to address than those that have had time to become chronic.

What Are ICR and JIA, and When Should They Be on your Radar?

Most TMJ problems in teenagers involve the muscles or the disc inside the joint, both of which respond well to conservative care. However, two less common conditions are worth knowing about if you have noticed changes beyond pain, particularly shifts in how your child’s bite fits together or changes in their facial profile.

Idiopathic Condylar Resorption (ICR) is a condition in which the rounded part of the jaw joint gradually breaks down. It most commonly affects females between the ages of 15 and 35, and hormonal influences are believed to play a significant role. Changes in bite and jaw appearance are often among the first visible signs, sometimes before significant pain develops.

Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that frequently involves the jaw joints, sometimes producing similar patterns of progressive change.

If you have noticed any of these changes in your child, it is worth mentioning them at their evaluation. Catching either condition early makes a meaningful difference in how it is managed.

Is Your Child Dealing With Jaw Problems in the New York City Metropolitan Area?

If you are in Manhattan, Westchester County, Long Island, or northern New Jersey and your child has been dealing with jaw pain, TMJ symptoms, or related headaches, you deserve answers, not just temporary relief.

At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, we specialize exclusively in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders and orofacial pain. We take time to identify the true cause of your child’s symptoms and build a treatment plan that directly addresses it.

We have 4 locations: Midtown Manhattan, White Plains, Hauppauge, and Springfield, NJ.

We regularly see patients from Nassau County, Suffolk County, and across the five boroughs, in addition to our immediate practice communities.

About the Author

Dr. John Dinan is a board-certified Orofacial Pain specialist dedicated to the treatment of TMJ/TMD disorders and related conditions. He practices at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain’s Manhattan and Springfield, NJ locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a TMJ evaluation for a teenager involve?
A thorough evaluation looks beyond the jaw joint. It covers sleep quality, stress levels, current medications, orthodontic history, and headache patterns, alongside a physical exam of the jaw muscles, joint mechanics, and range of motion. Imaging may also be part of the assessment. The goal is to understand the full picture before recommending treatment, not to apply a standard protocol.

How is TMJ treated in teenagers?
Treatment for most teenagers begins with conservative, non-invasive approaches: behavioral guidance, jaw relaxation techniques, physical therapy, oral appliance therapy when appropriate, and medication management when indicated. More advanced interventions are available but are not the starting point. The approach is individualized based on what is driving your child’s symptoms.

How long does TMJ treatment take in a teenager?
It depends on what is driving the symptoms. Teenagers with primarily muscular symptoms and identifiable triggers often see meaningful improvement within weeks. More complex cases involving disc displacement, migraine overlap, or multiple contributing factors take longer. Early intervention consistently produces better outcomes than waiting.

What is idiopathic condylar resorption, and how do I know if my child has it?
ICR is a condition in which the rounded part of the jaw joint gradually breaks down. It most commonly affects females between ages 15 and 35. The most noticeable signs are often changes in bite alignment or facial profile rather than pain. If your child’s bite has shifted or their chin appears to be receding, an evaluation with an orofacial pain specialist is warranted.

Do we need a referral to see a TMJ specialist in New York?
A referral is not required to schedule an evaluation at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain. Many patients come directly after researching their symptoms. That said, referrals from dentists, neurologists, ENTs, and pediatricians are common and welcome.

We are located in New Jersey. Can we still see a TMJ specialist at NYTMJ?
Yes. New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain has a location in Springfield, NJ, in addition to offices in Midtown Manhattan, White Plains, and Hauppauge. Patients from across northern and central New Jersey, Westchester County, Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the five boroughs regularly seek care at our practice.

We don’t live in the New York City metropolitan region. How can we find a TMJ specialist in our area?
The American Board of Orofacial Pain maintains a searchable directory of board-certified TMJ and orofacial pain specialists across the country. You can search for a specialist near you here. Board certification ensures the provider has met rigorous standards in the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ disorders and related conditions.

Tags Facial Pain, Orofacial Pain, TMJ/TMD

Children & TMJ Facial Pain Orofacial Pain TMJ

Jaw Pain in Your Teenager: Why Is It Happening?

Post author By John E. Dinan, DMD MS
Post date June 3, 2026
No Comments on Jaw Pain in Your Teenager: Why Is It Happening?

Your child started mentioning jaw pain a few months ago. Maybe they said their jaw clicks when they eat. Maybe they’ve been waking up with headaches, or complaining of ear pain their pediatrician can’t explain.

You brought it up at their next dental appointment. The dentist checked their teeth, said everything looked fine, and suggested a nightguard.

You tried the nightguard. The complaints kept coming.

If this sounds familiar, here’s something that may help: jaw pain and TMJ symptoms are well documented in adolescents and young adults. When they show up during this period of life, there are usually very specific, identifiable reasons why. And the right specialist can find them.

In the New York City metropolitan area, where academic pressure runs high and schedules are often relentless, we see this pattern regularly in our busy orofacial pain practice. Teens and young adults from Manhattan, Westchester County, Long Island, and northern New Jersey arrive having already been to their dentist, their pediatrician, and sometimes an ENT or neurologist. They are not getting answers. In many cases, the missing piece is a specialist trained specifically in orofacial pain.

What Is TMJ?

TMJ, or temporomandibular disorder (TMD), is a condition involving the jaw joint, the muscles that control jaw movement, and the surrounding tissues. It commonly produces jaw pain, clicking, headaches, ear fullness, and facial muscle tension. In adolescents, it is frequently triggered by a combination of hormonal changes, stress, sleep disruption, orthodontic treatment, and certain medications.

In teens and young adults, TMD most often shows up as some combination of the following:

Jaw pain or soreness, especially in the morning or after eating
Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds in the jaw
Headaches, often starting at the temples or behind the eyes
Ear fullness, ringing, or pain without an ear infection
Difficulty opening the mouth fully or comfortably
Facial muscle tension or fatigue

These symptoms are real, and they should not be something your child simply has to live with.

Why Does TMD So Often Start During the Teen Years?

Adolescence creates a convergence of factors that can push a vulnerable jaw system toward symptoms. Hormones shift significantly. Sleep patterns change. Stress levels rise. Orthodontic treatment is often in progress. And for many teens today, new medications enter the picture for the first time.

None of these factors alone necessarily causes TMD. But when several of them are present at once, they can tip a previously quiet jaw problem into an active, painful one.

Understanding which factors are driving your child’s symptoms is the starting point for effective care.

Why Are Girls More Likely to Develop TMD During Puberty?

TMD affects women significantly more often than men, and the difference is largely believed to be hormonal.

The jaw joint contains receptors for estrogen, the primary female sex hormone. As estrogen levels fluctuate, the ligaments supporting the joint can become more lax, making the joint less stable and more prone to problems.

Puberty triggers major hormonal shifts, and it is not coincidental that TMJ clicking and early jaw symptoms often first appear during this window. If your daughter’s jaw symptoms started in middle school or early high school, this hormonal connection may be part of the explanation.

Can a Teenager Have Both TMD and Migraine at the Same Time?

Yes, and it is more common than most parents expect. Many parents bring their child to our practice complaining of “headaches and jaw pain,” and assume the jaw is causing both.

Sometimes that is true. But a pattern we see frequently is that the child is actually dealing with two distinct but overlapping conditions: TMD and migraine. Both involve the trigeminal nerve, which governs sensation in the face and jaw. When one condition flares, it can amplify the other.

Migraine commonly begins during the teen years and early adulthood, overlapping almost exactly with the typical window for early TMD onset.

If your child has been treated for headaches and jaw pain without meaningful improvement, it is worth making sure both conditions have been formally evaluated. Treating only one when both are present often leaves a significant part of the problem unaddressed.

Can Braces or Aligners Make TMD Worse?

Orthodontic treatment does not cause TMD. That is well established in the research, and it is important to say plainly.

However, there are meaningful nuances that parents should understand.

Orthodontic forces change the feedback that teeth send to the jaw muscles. In some patients, the continuous presence of clear aligners between the teeth appears to increase tooth contact awareness and clenching activity. For teens who are already predisposed to jaw problems, orthodontic treatment can sometimes be what converts a subclinical condition into an active, symptomatic one.

Clear aligner therapy in an adolescent patient with temporomandibular disorder considerations — Clear aligner therapy may contribute to increased tooth contact awareness or symptom aggravation in susceptible TMD patients.

This does not mean your child should avoid or stop orthodontic treatment. It means two things. First, children starting orthodontic treatment should be evaluated by an orofacial pain specialist for existing TMD symptoms beforehand. Second, jaw pain that develops or worsens during orthodontic treatment should be evaluated by an orofacial pain specialist, not simply managed with over-the-counter pain relief or reassurance that it will pass.

In some cases, active orthodontic treatment limits the TMD therapies available, and those trade-offs need to be considered by a specialist.

Can ADHD Medication or Antidepressants Cause Jaw Clenching?

Yes. This is a connection many families are not aware of, and it can be directly relevant to your child’s symptoms.

SSRIs, a common class of antidepressants that includes sertraline, escitalopram, and fluoxetine, are associated with a significant increase in bruxism, meaning clenching and grinding, both during sleep and while awake. This side effect can begin within weeks of starting the medication.

Stimulant medications prescribed for ADHD, including both amphetamine-based and methylphenidate-based drugs, are also strongly associated with increased daytime jaw clenching.

If your child began experiencing jaw pain or muscle tension shortly after starting a new medication, that connection is worth raising with their prescribing physician and with an orofacial pain specialist.

In some situations, alternative medications may be available. In others, the better path is managing the jaw symptoms directly while continuing the medication that is helping with the underlying condition.

How Does Poor Sleep Make Teen TMD Symptoms Worse?

Poor sleep is one of the strongest predictors of chronic pain, including TMD. When your child is not sleeping adequately, their muscles recover more slowly, their pain sensitivity increases, and their body is less equipped to manage the jaw problems that are already present.

During adolescence, the body’s internal clock naturally shifts toward a later sleep phase, making it biologically harder for teens to fall asleep early. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teenagers get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Given typical school start times, most adolescents fall well short of that.

Screen use before bed worsens the problem by suppressing melatonin and increasing physiologic arousal, pushing sleep onset even later.

If your child has jaw pain and is also consistently under-sleeping, the sleep deficit is not incidental. It is likely contributing to their symptoms and interfering with recovery.

Does Stress Really Cause Physical Jaw Pain?

It can be tempting to hear “stress is contributing to this” and interpret it as a suggestion that the pain is not real. That is not what it means.

Psychosocial stress, whether from academic pressure, social demands, athletic expectations, or the chronic low-grade stress that comes with constant social media exposure, has real physiologic effects. It activates jaw and facial muscles. It increases clenching. It raises systemic inflammation. And it disrupts sleep, which compounds everything else.

For many adolescents in Westchester County, Manhattan, and the surrounding suburbs, this kind of sustained pressure is a daily reality, and it shows up in the jaw.

Helping your child build skills for physiologic self-regulation, including jaw relaxation techniques, diaphragmatic breathing, and consistent sleep habits, is a legitimate and evidence-based part of managing TMD. Mental health support, when appropriate, is also part of the picture.

Read Part 2 to learn about treatment for TMD in teens.

Is Your Child Experiencing TMJ or Jaw Pain Symptoms in the New York City Metropolitan Area?

At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, we specialize exclusively in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders and orofacial pain. We take time to identify the true cause of your child’s symptoms and build a treatment plan that directly addresses it.

We have 4 locations: Midtown Manhattan, White Plains, Hauppauge, and Springfield, NJ.

About Our Practice →
Treatments We Provide →
What to Expect at Your First Visit →

About the Author

Frequently Asked Questions about Jaw Pain in Teenagers

Can TMD go away on its own in teenagers?
In some mild cases, symptoms improve with reduced stress, better sleep, and behavioral changes. However, TMD that persists beyond a few weeks, or that is associated with jaw clicking, bite changes, or recurring headaches, warrants a formal evaluation. Waiting without a diagnosis risks missing a condition that responds much better to early intervention.

What kind of doctor treats TMD in children and teenagers?
An orofacial pain specialist is the appropriate provider for diagnosing and treating TMD. This is a board-certified dental specialty focused specifically on jaw disorders, facial pain, and related conditions. General dentists and orthodontists are not typically trained in comprehensive TMD diagnosis.

Can braces cause TMJ problems?
The research is clear that orthodontic treatment does not cause TMD. However, in teenagers who are already predisposed, the forces and appliances involved in orthodontic treatment can sometimes activate symptoms that were previously quiet. Any jaw pain arising during orthodontic treatment should be evaluated, not assumed to be normal soreness.

Is jaw clicking in teenagers serious?
Jaw clicking on its own, without pain or limited opening, is common and often benign. However, clicking that is accompanied by pain, occurs on one side only, or is associated with changes in how the bite fits together is worth evaluating. Clicking can be an early sign of disc displacement inside the jaw joint.

Why does my teenager’s jaw hurt more in the morning?
Morning jaw pain is frequently a sign of nighttime clenching or bruxism during sleep. The jaw muscles work throughout the night and wake up fatigued and sore, much like any overworked muscle. This pattern is worth mentioning to an orofacial pain specialist, as it is highly treatable.

Can anxiety or depression contribute to TMD symptoms in teens?
Yes. Anxiety and depression increase muscle tension, disrupt sleep, and in many cases involve medications (such as SSRIs) that independently raise the risk of clenching. Addressing mental health as part of a comprehensive TMD plan is not a suggestion that the pain is psychological. It is simply treating the whole picture.

TMJ Hypermobility: Jaw Instability, Clicking, and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

When the issue is joint instability, not tightness

If your jaw opens very wide, clicks frequently, and feels loose or fatigued, TMJ hypermobility may be the underlying cause. This type of TMJ disorder is driven by joint instability, not restriction, and requires a specialized approach to treatment.

When Your Symptoms Do Not Fit the Usual Pattern

Most people assume TMJ problems come from a jaw that is tight or stuck.

But some patients experience the opposite.

Your jaw may open very wide. You may hear clicking or feel shifting in the joint. Instead of restriction, it can feel loose or unreliable. The muscles around it often feel constantly tired or sore, even when you are not doing much.

If this sounds familiar, TMJ hypermobility may be part of the picture. The issue is not too little movement. It is too much. In our practice in the New York City metropolitan area, we see this pattern more often than many patients expect.

The Role of TMJ Hypermobility – Why the Jaw Becomes Painful

Hypermobility means your joints move beyond the normal range.

For some people, that simply means they are flexible. For others, it reflects a connective tissue condition such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

These conditions affect collagen, the material that gives structure and support to ligaments and joints. When collagen is more elastic than it should be, the joint is not held as firmly. It moves more than it should, and the body has to compensate.

In TMJ hypermobility, that compensation falls on the muscles.

Why the Jaw Becomes Painful

When the joint lacks stability, the muscles step in to control it.

At first, this works. Over time, it becomes a problem.

The muscles are constantly active, trying to keep the joint steady. This leads to fatigue, soreness, and persistent discomfort. Many patients also notice clicking or popping, which often reflects instability inside the joint rather than something harmless.

This is what makes TMJ hypermobility different.

Instead of a jaw that cannot open enough, this is a joint that moves too much and lacks control.

A Common Pattern

In our practice, we often see patients who have always been “flexible.”

They may have a history of joint issues in other parts of the body. Ankles that sprain easily. Shoulders that feel unstable. Pain that takes longer than expected to resolve.

Some already have a diagnosis of hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Others have never connected these patterns before.

When the connection is made, their jaw symptoms finally start to make sense.

Why Treatment Has Not Worked

Many patients with TMJ hypermobility have already tried treatment.

They are often told to relax their muscles or adjust their bite. Sometimes this helps temporarily, but the symptoms return.

That is because the underlying issue is instability.

In a hypermobile joint, small strains do not fully resolve. The joint remains less supported, and the muscles continue to compensate. Over time, they become overworked and sensitive.

This does not mean improvement is not possible. It means the approach needs to change.

Treatment Focus: Stability and Control

The goal is not to change the underlying connective tissue.

The goal is to improve stability and reduce strain on the system.

This often involves reducing clenching and jaw tension during the day and protecting the joint at night with an oral appliance. Patients are also guided to avoid extreme opening, such as wide yawning or large bites.

Physical therapy plays an important role, but the focus is different. Instead of just relaxing muscles, the emphasis is on controlled strengthening and stabilization.

When muscle pain is persistent, targeted treatments may be used to help calm the system.

In some cases, therapies that support ligament strength may also be considered.

Setting the Right Expectations

With hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, the underlying tissue does not change.

But that does not mean nothing can improve.

When treatment focuses on stability, protection, and control, patients often experience less pain, better function, and more confidence in how their jaw feels.

When to Seek Evaluation

If your jaw opens unusually wide, clicks along with pain or fatigue, or has not improved with previous care, it may be worth a more specialized evaluation.

This is especially true if you have been diagnosed with hypermobility or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, or suspect that you may be more flexible than average.

Moving Forward

If your symptoms have never quite fit the typical TMJ pattern, there is usually a reason.

Recognizing that TMJ hypermobility is often the turning point in getting the right diagnosis and treatment.

DO YOU HAVE TMJ AND A HYPERMOBILITY DISORDER IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA?

If your jaw opens very wide, clicks frequently, and feels loose or fatigued, TMJ hypermobility may be the underlying cause. This type of TMJ disorder is driven by joint instability, not restriction, and requires a specialized approach to treatment.

At New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain, we specialize in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorders and orofacial pain. We take the time to understand what is actually driving your symptoms and build a treatment plan around it.

Our team of orofacial pain specialists provides evidence-based, individualized care at our locations in the NYC metropolitan area. We work closely with each patient and often other healthcare providers to restore comfort and function.

If your symptoms have persisted despite reassurance or prior treatment, a more specialized evaluation can make all the difference.

About Our Practice →
Treatments We Provide →
What to Expect at Your First Visit →

Tags Facial Pain, Orofacial Pain, TMJ/TMD

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Why Women Experience TMJ Symptoms More Frequently Than Men

TMJ disorders affect women far more often than men.
This is not a coincidence. Differences in joint structure, hormones, and pain processing can make symptoms more likely to develop and harder to resolve.
Understanding why is often the first step toward real, lasting relief.

If you’re a woman dealing with TMJ symptoms such as jaw pain, clicking, locking, tightness, frequent headaches, or facial pain, this is for you.

I’m a board-certified orofacial pain specialist and have been treating people with TMJ symptoms for over 40 years. The majority of patients who come to our NYC practice are women. In fact, close to 70% of people seeking treatment for TMJ disorders are women.

There are biological reasons for this huge disparity, and understanding them can be essential if you are struggling to feel better.

Helping Patients Better Understand Their Persistent Symptoms

Many women come to us looking for a reason why their jaw continues to hurt, though they have used a nightguard, taken anti – inflammatory medications, and followed a soft diet for months.

TMJ (the clinical term is temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD) involves the interaction between your joints, your muscles, and your nervous system. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, these disorders are among the most common causes of facial pain.

TMJ symptoms are not something you’re imagining. They are what your body is expressing.

Why This Happens in Women

1. The ligaments in your temporomandibular joint are more flexible and less stable

In women, the ligaments in the temporomandibular joint tend to be more flexible and less structurally stable than in men.

There is a reason for this! The temporomandibular joint in women contains an abundance of estrogen receptors, making its tissues directly responsive to hormonal fluctuation. In fact, estrogen promotes elastin production, producing ligaments that are more flexible and less structurally organized than those in men. The result is greater joint laxity and reduced load-bearing capacity. In women, this means that the temporomandibular joint is more susceptible to compromise with everyday function, and certainly when under excessive loading during daytime jaw overuse behaviors and sleep grinding and clenching of the teeth.

More stable joint ligaments tolerate these stresses longer. More flexible ligaments reach their limits sooner.

That is why symptoms can emerge more commonly in the temporomandibular joints in women over time.

2. The female brain processes pain differently

Pain is not just about what is happening in a body part. It is also about how your brain processes pain signals.

Men generally have stronger central nervous system modulating elements for dampening pain signals. Women, on average, have less of that built-in inhibition due to the lack of Androgens, including testosterone and related hormones. In practical terms, male hormones strengthen the brain’s capacity to send dampening signals down to pain receptors throughout the body. Women, carrying lower androgen levels, lack this same degree of biological protection

This means that the same level of inflammation and tissue injury generated pain can be experienced very differently.

What might feel like temporary soreness in a man can become persistent pain in a woman.

This is not about tolerance or resilience. It reflects real biological differences in how the nervous system regulates pain.

3. Stress has a greater physical impact on a woman’s jaw

Stress affects everyone, but it often shows up differently in women than it does in men, again for biological reasons.

Under prolonged stress, the human body can remain in an activated state, often with accompanying muscle tension. This is called sympathetic activation. Over time, this activation can deplete the neurotransmitters that support descending pain modulation, the very system that blunts pain experiences on a daily basis. With research suggesting that women have less robust pain blunting systems than men, the pain that results from ongoing muscle tension can be more profound in women and recovery even in the presence of care taking longer.

In the jaw specifically, muscle pain and fatigue as a result of stress-driven daytime clenching and night grinding can be impactful and persistent

Men can experience this as well, but women tend to develop more sustained symptoms, which increases the overall load on the system.

The Emergence of TMJ Symptoms

In our NYC metropolitan area practices, we commonly see TMJ symptoms develop as a result of a specific traumatic event, a mind-body disorder that drives persistent muscle tension, or an underlying medical condition that reduces tissue resiliency in the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joints.

Sometimes multiple factors are responsible, and symptoms develop gradually.

First, the body adapts. Then it begins to struggle. In women, as a result of the biological factors mentioned, the likelihood of a TMJ problem emerging and hanging around increases. At times, TMJ symptoms such as jaw pain, clicking, locking, tightness, frequent headaches, or facial pain no longer resolve on their own but require explanation and formal treatment.

A More Complete Understanding for Women

Biological vulnerability is real, but it does not mean that tissue healing and feeling better are not achievable. With the right evaluation, the causes and risk factors can be addressed comprehensively with education and a wide variety of supportive treatments that lead to meaningful and sustainable improvement.

Are You a Woman Experiencing TMJ Symptoms in the NYC Metropolitan Area?

If you are dealing with persistent jaw pain, clicking, locking, tightness, frequent headaches, or facial pain, there is a reason why.

If your symptoms have persisted despite reassurance or prior treatment, a more specialized evaluation can make all the difference.

About Our Practice →
Treatments We Provide →
Read: Women & Pain →

Tags Facial Pain, Orofacial Pain, TMJ/TMD

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When Your Tooth Pain Won’t Go Away (But Your Dentist Says Nothing’s Wrong)

Post author By Aimee Werfel, DDS
Post date January 22, 2026
No Comments on When Your Tooth Pain Won’t Go Away (But Your Dentist Says Nothing’s Wrong)

Have you been told “everything looks fine” while you’re still suffering? You’re not alone.

We see many patients at our TMJ and orofacial pain practice who are feeling frustrated, scared, and frankly, a little crazy. They’ve been dealing with tooth pain for months, sometimes years, but their dentist keeps saying nothing’s wrong, and they’re left wondering if they’re imagining things.

If this sounds like your story, I want you to know: your pain is real, and there’s often a very treatable explanation.

Why do I have tooth pain but my dentist says nothing’s wrong?

Quick answer: Tooth pain that isn’t caused by a dental issue is called nonodontogenic pain. It’s often caused by overworked jaw muscles, like the masseter, especially in people who clench or grind their teeth during the day or at night.

Let me tell you about “Jason” (not his real name), a 49-year-old entrepreneur who came to see me after two years of this exact frustration. He was absolutely convinced his pain was coming from his lower right tooth. So convinced, in fact, that he’d had multiple root canals trying to fix it.

But his pain kept getting worse.

When Jason found our practice, he was taking acetaminophen and ibuprofen daily, with occasional hydrocodone for the really bad episodes. The pain would hit him “randomly” several times a month and radiate from his tooth into his jaw and ear.

Sound familiar? You’re experiencing what thousands of patients go through: tooth pain but your dentist says nothing is wrong, and you feel lost and dismissed.

There really was nothing wrong with the tooth

When I examined Jason, I found exactly what his previous dentists had found: there was nothing wrong with his tooth. No signs of infection, no evidence of problems on his X-rays, no tenderness when I tapped on the tooth.

But here’s what’s different about an orofacial pain specialist’s examination: I also checked the muscles around his jaw.

That’s when I found it. Jason’s masseter muscle (a large muscle that helps you chew) was overbuilt, tight, and incredibly tender. He also had an uneven bite that was putting extra stress on that muscle every single day.

Even more telling, Jason had never been told something crucial: your teeth should not touch throughout the day unless you’re actively chewing or swallowing. He was unconsciously keeping his teeth together day after day, which was overworking that muscle constantly.

Why does muscle pain feel like tooth pain?

This might sound strange, but muscles can “refer” pain to other areas. Your brain sometimes gets confused about where pain signals are actually coming from. The masseter muscle, when it’s overworked and full of trigger points (painful muscle knots), commonly refers pain right to your teeth, especially your back teeth.

This is called nonodontogenic dental pain, which simply means “tooth pain that doesn’t come from the tooth.” It’s one of the most common reasons people experience tooth pain but their dentist says nothing’s wrong.

How did we figure out what was really going on?

I started Jason on trigger point therapy that same day by injecting a small amount of lidocaine into the tight knots in his masseter muscle. This served two purposes: it was both a test to see if this was the source of his pain, and a treatment to start giving him relief.

But the real breakthrough came with something simple: pain journaling.

I asked Jason to start tracking when his pain occurred, what he was doing before it started, how long it lasted, and what made it better. This seemed like a simple request, but it changed everything.

Jason’s pain patterns revealed the truth

Within a few weeks of documenting his symptoms, Jason realized his “random” pain episodes weren’t random at all. They followed stressful periods at work and happened more often when he’d been drinking alcohol.

By his second appointment, he was becoming aware of when he was clenching his teeth: something he’d been doing unconsciously for years, especially when stressed.

The transformation was remarkable. Within one month, Jason’s need for pain medication decreased dramatically. He felt less anxious because he could finally predict and control his symptoms instead of feeling helpless.

Could this be what’s happening to you?

If you’re dealing with the frustrating situation where you have tooth pain but your dentist says nothing’s wrong, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Does your pain:

Radiate beyond just the tooth (into your jaw, ear, or temple)?
Seem to come and go without clear dental triggers?
Get worse during stressful periods?
Persist even after dental treatment?
Feel more like a dull ache than a sharp, stabbing pain?

Do you:

Clench or grind your teeth, especially when concentrating or stressed?
Wake up with jaw soreness?
Keep your teeth touching during the day?
Have an uneven bite?
Drink alcohol regularly (which can increase muscle tension)?

If you answered yes to several of these, there’s a good chance your tooth pain might actually be coming from your jaw muscles.

What you can do right now

Start paying attention to your pain patterns. Keep a simple log noting:

When the pain occurs
What you were doing beforehand
How long it lasts
What helps it feel better
Your stress level that day

Also, try to notice if you’re keeping your teeth together during the day. Your lips should be together, but your teeth should be slightly apart unless you’re actively chewing.

How to get help

Jason’s story isn’t unique. We see patients regularly who’ve experienced tooth pain, but their dentist says nothing’s wrong. The good news is that once the real source of their pain has been identified, treatment is typically very successful!

If Jason’s story sounds like yours, you deserve answers. We have four locations in the New York City metropolitan area, and we will be happy to see you. Not in New York? Locate an orofacial pain specialist in your area by clicking here: The American Board of Orofacial Pain

If you’re in the NYC metro area and this story sounds like yours, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You deserve answers, and more importantly, you deserve relief.

Dr. Aimee Werfel specializes in orofacial pain at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain. The practice has locations in Manhattan, White Plains, Springfield NJ, and Hauppauge on Long Island and, and is dedicated to helping patients find answers when traditional dental approaches haven’t worked.

You may also be interested in:

Why Do You Have A Toothache After A Root Canal?

Why Your Jaw Hurts & What To Do

The Best Treatments For TMJ – So You Can Feel Better

Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Pain When the Dentist Finds Nothing Wrong

Why does my tooth hurt even though my dentist says it’s fine?
Tooth pain can sometimes be referred from overworked jaw muscles like the masseter. This is called nonodontogenic pain—pain that feels dental but isn’t caused by a tooth problem.

What is nonodontogenic tooth pain?
It refers to pain that mimics a toothache but originates from other structures, often the jaw muscles or nerves.

Can TMJ or jaw muscles really cause tooth pain?
Yes. The masseter muscle, when overworked or tight, can send pain signals that feel like they’re coming from a tooth.

What are trigger points in jaw muscles?
Trigger points are tight, irritated spots in muscles that can refer pain elsewhere—like your teeth, jaw, or ear.

How do I know if my tooth pain is from clenching?
If your pain comes and goes, worsens with stress, and isn’t explained by dental exams, clenching or grinding may be the cause.

Is there a treatment for non-dental tooth pain?
Yes. Treatments can include trigger point injections, behavioral therapy, bite adjustments, and stress management.

Can stress cause tooth or jaw pain?
Absolutely. Stress often leads to unconscious clenching or grinding, which overworks jaw muscles and can trigger pain.

What should I do if my tooth pain won’t go away?
Track your symptoms, observe clenching habits, and consult an orofacial pain specialist if dental exams show no clear cause.

Learn More About Toothaches of Non-Dental Origin in this Brochure from The American Academy of Orofacial Pain

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The Secret Behind Unexplained Toothaches & Facial Pain

There’s a good chance you landed here because you’ve been suffering from an unexplained toothache, a persistent sinus pain that won’t leave you alone, or an annoying earache that makes you wince every time you chew for a long time. These symptoms have likely sent you on multiple visits to healthcare professionals, each one leaving you with more questions than answers.

But what if the source of your pain is not where you’re feeling it?

Your puzzling array of symptoms just may be due to problems with your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) and associated muscles. Your TMJs and jaw muscles play a fundamental role in the basic movements of your jaw—talking, chewing, yawning, and even expressing emotions. When this joint and its corresponding muscles and ligaments become strained, unstable, and or overworked, the resulting condition is known as temporomandibular disorder or TMD.

When a TMD problem is not considered as a source of pain in teeth, the ear and/or sinus, for example, the result can be ongoing evaluations and treatments that address the location of the pain symptoms but not the origin. When the location of the pain complaint is not the true origin, the term referred pain is commonly used.

Referred Pain & Its Relationship To TMD Problems

Referred pain is pain perceived at a location other than the origin of the painful stimulus. It is the result of a network of interconnecting sensory nerves that are persistently over-excited. For example, when there is an injury or pathology at one site in the network, it is possible that when the signal is interpreted in the brain, mistakes are made as to the true origin of the problem. As a result, pain is often experienced at a distance from the true origin. (E.g., pain from a heart problem is experienced in the shoulder or jaw)

So, how does this relate to the structures of the jaw?

When your jaw muscles (masseters and temporalis) are persistently overworked, they become sore, extremely sensitive, and knotted. These areas are known as trigger points. When activated, trigger points can send pain signals to places far from their origins, resulting in referred pain. Jaw overuse behaviors such as clenching your teeth during the day, biting your nails, chewing your pens, etc., can lead to the formation and activation of these trigger points, leading to referred pain in areas such as your teeth, ears, or sinuses.

The Secret Behind Unexplained Toothaches & Facial Pain — *Referred Pain to the Teeth, Ear, Sinus, and Face from the Masseter Muscle*

*Referred Pain to the Teeth, Ear, Sinus, and Face from the Temporalis Muscle*

Orofacial Pain Specialists Understand What You’re Going Through

As part of an Orofacial Pain practice, my colleagues and I are well-versed in the nuances of this disorder. For many of our patients, merely validating their pain and helping them understand the concept of referred pain gets them moving in the right direction on the road to recovery.

If you’re nodding your head right now, thinking, “That’s me!” I encourage you to seek the care of an Orofacial Pain specialist. Your treatment plan might include education, awareness strategies to reduce jaw overuse behaviors and fatiguing postures, oral appliances, exercises, and/or relaxation techniques to address daily worries and stress. In addition, physical therapy can also be helpful, along with muscle injections, to break up the trigger points that are driving your pain.

How To Get Help Now

If you live in the NYC metro area and are ready to uncover the root of your Orofacial Pain, we are here to guide you. Take the first decisive step by scheduling a consultation at one of our convenient offices in Manhattan, White Plains, New Jersey and on Long Island. Together, we’ll get to the bottom of what’s causing your suffering and get you on the road to recovery.

If you’re outside the NYC metro area, the American Board of Orofacial Pain website has a national directory of Orofacial Pain specialists.

Find out more about TMJ pain:
TMJ Headaches & Migraines
Pain & The Brain

Orofacial Pain TMJ

The #1 Reason You Have TMJ Pain

Post author By Donald Tanenbaum DDS MPH - Board-Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain
Post date May 4, 2023
No Comments on The #1 Reason You Have TMJ Pain

Suffering from TMJ pain? You’re not alone. Nearly 18% of the population suffers from a TMJ disorder, too. As a TMJ and Orofacial Pain specialist with over four decades of experience, I’ve helped thousands of people get relief from their pain and acquire control over their TMJ problems.

The symptoms of TMJ pain can be very different from person to person. For some, the pain is sporadic. For others, it lingers. Some people can’t open their mouths without intense pain; some suffer from severe headaches. TMJ pain is usually described as dull, aching, and sore. And many patients say their TMJ problem has taken over their life.

The #1 Reason For TMJ Pain Is Overworked Jaw Muscles

I’m happy to say most people do get better. The most important element of your TMJ treatment, and where we always start, is for you to unravel the mystery behind your TMJ pain.

The clue to your TMJ pain is found in your masseter and temporalis muscles, which are your jaw muscles. Your jaw muscles react to being overworked the same way as any other muscle – when they are overworked they can get sore, stiff, and achy.

For example, when you work in your garden for many hours on a Saturday, your back muscles are probably going to be sore and achy on Sunday. When you work out intensely at the gym, your muscles can ache. If you lift and carry your baby or toddler, you know how painful your arm, shoulder, and back muscles can be.

Your masseter and temporalis muscles are just as susceptible to overuse and fatigue as your back, legs, shoulders, and arms. So, what causes jaw muscles to become overworked? The most common reasons for jaw tension are continuous daytime jaw over-use behaviors, such as:

Teeth grinding and clenching
Gnawing on pens
Chewing gum
Biting your nails or cuticles
Biting your lips or the inside of your mouth

But there’s something behind the persistent muscle tension that just may be the cause of your TMJ pain…

Your TMJ Pain May Well Be Tied To Your Emotions

It may seem strange to tie your jaw muscle problems to your emotions. But over the years, TMJ specialists began to notice some stark similarities among their patients. They discovered that the majority were living lives filled with negative emotions such as constant stress and worry. Many were dealing with a serious illness, unrelenting pressure at work, caring for an aging parent, or having marital problems, to name a few.

Negative emotions that come from constant stress and worry can lead to what I like to call “an upset brain.” An upset brain can lead to persistent muscle tension, which can then trigger daytime jaw over-use behaviors such as the ones I listed above.

Constant stress and worry can harm the quality of sleep, as well. An upset brain can trigger nighttime teeth clenching or grinding, which overworks your muscles and often results in morning TMJ pain and stiffness.

The Link Between Overworked Jaw Muscles & Prescription Medications

There’s another possible reason you have TMJ pain. Many people rely on medications such as Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta®, and Vyvanse® to enhance their brain focus. While they’re effective, they can also stimulate your internal fight-or-flight system, which in turn can lead to jaw over-use behaviors, which in turn can cause jaw problems.

What To Do Next

TMJ and Orofacial Pain Specialists have a toolbox full of treatments to help people get in control of their TMJ so they can feel better, heal, and get their lives back. Treatments include behavior modification, relaxation and breathing strategies, exercises, medications, and oral appliances. Trigger point injections, prolo injections, and BOTOX® can be very effective as part of an overall treatment plan, as well.

Now that you are aware that the #1 reason you have TMJ pain is your overworked jaw muscles, it’s time to get help. Click here to learn more about the best treatments for TMJ.

Are you located in the NYC metro area? We can help you. Our practice has four convenient locations: Manhattan, White Plains, Long Island (2 locations), and Springfield, NJ. To make your appointment, call 212-265-0110.

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Pain & Sleep

Post author By Donald Tanenbaum DDS MPH - Board-Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain
Post date December 2, 2022
No Comments on Pain & Sleep

The Connection Between Pain And Sleep

Over the last 10 to 15 years, there has been a great deal of research looking at the relationship between sleep and pain. As a result of these studies, it is now very clear that pain thresholds are significantly impacted by both the quality and quantity of your sleep.

If the quality and quantity of your sleep are compromised, your pain thresholds drop, which can lead to situations where pain is experienced in your muscles and joints on a daily basis. This is in spite of the fact that no clear evidence of joint or muscle injury exists. Rather, your pain is experienced as a result of normal activity and accentuated when muscles or joints are overworked.

Many people who are seen in our office describe pain in their muscles and joints as a result of normal eating and even talking. This points to the possibility that the nerve endings in their jaw muscles and joints are operating at a low threshold and, therefore, they experience pain almost all the time. This is called allodynia: when normal stimulation generates pain. In addition, excessive jaw use from teeth clenching and grinding produces even higher levels of pain beyond what is normally expected. Poor sleep can lead to all of these TMJ symptoms.

If you have insomnia (the inability to get to sleep or stay asleep), your pain thresholds can drop significantly. You may experience morning headaches and/or an assortment of body pain symptoms during the course of almost every day.

Sleep quality is also impacted if you have airway difficulties. If you’ve been diagnosed with upper airway resistance or respiratory effort-related arousal, your pain symptoms are commonly in your head and neck region. Headaches and temporomandibular problems are very common in people with airway challenges. Many patients who grind and clench their teeth (bruxism) have been shown to have airway problems, and some are diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.

There is an association (not an absolute relationship) between fragmented sleep and the occurrence of grinding and clenching activity. If you wake up with sore or tight jaw muscles, it is likely a result of bruxism activity.

We will ask you many questions about your sleep history during the evaluation process. Most sleep problems can be helped in my office. If your problem is more complex, we will consult with a sleep professional to help you get on the road to feeling better.

If you or someone you know is experiencing persistent or acute pain in the face or jaw, we invite you to set up a consultation with one of our Orofacial Pain specialists in the NYC metropolitan area. Our office locations and contact information are below.

BOTOX® Jaw Problems Orofacial Pain TMJ

BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment – Your Questions Answered

As a board-certified orofacial pain specialist in NYC and Long Island, I’ve used BOTOX® for TMJ treatment for over fifteen years. If jaw problems greet you upon waking up in the morning, limit your food choices, prompt you to take pain medications like Advil®, Aleve®, or Tylenol® on a routine basis, and have had a negative impact on your life, BOTOX® injections may be something for you to consider.

7 Common Questions About BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment

BOTOX® for TMJ treatment is a subject around which there is a considerable amount of confusion. To make the best decision for yourself, you should know what BOTOX® is, how it is administered for TMJ treatment, and how to choose the right health provider. Here are 7 of the most common questions I get from new patients and the answers:

1. What Is BOTOX®?

BOTOX®, or botulinum toxin, is what’s known as a neuromodulator. Neuromodulators reduce the ability of a muscle to contract to its maximum capacity. In BOTOX® for TMJ treatment, it is injected into your temporalis and masseter muscles, which are the muscles that enable you to bring your upper and lower teeth together.

When we inject BOTOX® into masseter and temporalis muscles, it partially inhibits their ability to tighten to their fullest extent. The result is a reduction in the force of jaw clenching and grinding – one of the common causes of TMJ pain. When the force is lessened, the pain being experienced is also often reduced.

BOTOX® can also reduce the bulk and size of your jaw muscles. Some patients come to my office simply seeking to change the shape of their jaw or reduce the size of their masseter muscles.

2. What’s The Difference Between BOTOX® For Wrinkles & BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment?

In your face, you have “muscles of facial expression.” These muscles enable you to frown, scowl, flare your nostrils, move your eyelids, and smile. To do so, they pull on your skin. As you age and your skin loses some elasticity, it causes wrinkles to appear.

BOTOX® injections have been found to effectively reduce or even eliminate wrinkles by reducing the ability of the muscles to pull on your skin. But, the forces of facial expression are always present, so the use of BOTOX® injections to reduce wrinkles is a lifetime commitment.

BOTOX® for TMJ treatment works differently – instead of injecting into your muscles of facial expression, the injections are into your “muscles of mastication” (your jaw muscles). During an office visit, BOTOX® is commonly injected into four to six areas in the masseter muscle and three to four areas in the temporalis muscles.

While skin wrinkling is a normal part of aging, overworked and symptomatic jaw muscles are not. They get that way for a reason, regardless of whether you’re 18 or 80.

BOTOX® can be a valuable tool to allow your jaw muscles to heal if your pain and stiffness persist after the risk factors that caused your TMJ problems have been identified, reduced, or eliminated.

3. How Long Does It Take For BOTOX® To Kick-In?

BOTOX® and other neuromodulators, such as Xeomin®, can be life-changing. But the benefits do not kick-in right away, and most people have to wait four days to a week before they experience the first indication of relief. Here’s why:

Your muscles contain and rely on a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine which enables them to contract. After BOTOX® injections, it will take a few days for your muscles to use up their supply of acetylcholine. When the level of acetylcholine drops and is not replenished to its normal level, the positive effects of the injections are usually felt.

4. How Long Will The Benefits Last?

The vast majority of TMJ patients that chose BOTOX® find that their symptoms are reduced even after the first injection visit, though not eliminated. The getting better process is slow, as it takes months for long-term muscle injuries to heal.

The best results are achieved when patients continue to complement the BOTOX® with a nightguard, jaw stretching exercises, a cautious diet, and ongoing efforts to pay attention to daytime jaw overuse behaviors. For most patients, there is a need for one or two additional injection sessions, spaced three months apart, so that the jaw muscles continue to get the rest they need to recover adequately. Within nine to twelve months, there is often a significant reduction in jaw muscle pain, tightness, and daily soreness.

5. How Many Injections Will I Need?

The full benefits of BOTOX® for TMJ treatment are typically not achieved from just one round of injections. Instead, you will likely require a series of injections spaced three months apart.

BOTOX® is, in most cases, not the first treatment you’ll be offered to reduce your jaw pain, soreness, stiff muscles, and motion limitations. The truth is that other treatments usually get the job done. Most of my patients get better by a combination of treatments such as modifying their diet, jaw exercises, massage, physical therapy, chiropractic care, medications, nightguards, and by non-BOTOX® muscle injections. And most importantly, trying to reduce or eliminate daytime jaw overuse behaviors such as nail-biting and teeth clenching.

6. What Are The Side Effects Of BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment?

Repeated injections of BOTOX® in masseter and temporalis muscles over a long period of time can cause some problems. If it is not administered properly, the result can be muscle weakness, and an acceleration of joint noises, making it difficult to eat certain foods. It could hollow out your temporalis muscles and flatten the contour of your face.

Therefore, it is of critical importance that when you seek a healthcare professional to administer BOTOX® for TMJ treatment, you choose one who fully understands the anatomy and function of the muscles of mastication and the risk factors that prompted your muscles to become overused.

7. Will I Need Long-Term, BOTOX® Injection Sessions?

There is always a small percentage of patients whose chronic jaw muscle pain (often years in the making) require ongoing BOTOX® injections, in a way similar to Migraine sufferers. Here’s why:Muscle pain occurs when muscle fibers are injured or overworked. Injured and overworked jaw muscles, often due to daytime clenching and nighttime grinding, a high level of lactic acid is produced. When the lactic acid builds up to a high level, a muscle’s nerve endings become excessively excited, which leads to persistent pain.

The pain is now not only in the muscles but in the nerves themselves. This condition is called sensitization (think of it as a sunburn). Sensitization is much more challenging to turn off than simple muscle.

Fortunately, BOTOX® can help nerve sensitization, but the results are harder to achieve and maintain. As a result, ongoing BOTOX® injections may be needed for some patients, with a frequency of three to four times a year without an absolute stop date. Careful attention is required for these patients to ensure their jaw muscles do not become excessively weakened.

BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment – The Bottom Line

If your problems have persisted for a long period of time and despite treatment by your dentist, you’re still suffering, the next step is to find a board-certified orofacial pain specialist that has experience using BOTOX® for TMJ treatment.

You do not have to suffer every day from the pain and discomfort of TMJ. Relief is available.

More helpful information about BOTOX® from Dr. Tanenbaum:

7 Things To Know If You’re Considering BOTOX® Injections For Your TMJ

BOTOX® for TMJ Pain

Tags Botox, Jaw Problems, Orofacial Pain, TMJ

Jaw Problems Orofacial Pain Referred Pain TMJ

How To Get Relief From TMJ Pain When Nothing Is Working

When exercises, medication, nightguards, relaxation techniques, and a soft diet don’t provide relief from TMJ pain, injections for TMJ may be the next step.

What Causes TMJ/TMD Problems?

Note: TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, which is your jaw joint, and TMD stands for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, which refers to jaw problems. Because most people use the catchall term “TMJ” to describe all TMDs, I use the term TMJ in this article.

Anything that causes your jaws to be overworked and fatigued, such as continually clenching your teeth, biting your nails during the day, or clenching and grinding at night, puts you at high risk for TMJ. However, your TMJ problem could stem from a history of trauma or a medical or dental procedure that sprained your jaw joints or strained the muscles and tendons. In some cases, systemic disease or a disorder can predispose you to experience inflammation, pain and instability in your jaw joints, ligaments, and/or tendons.

Regardless of the cause of your TMJ, if your jaw’s in trouble, you want treatment that will provide relief.

First-Line Therapies For Relief From TMJ Pain

I’ve been a TMJ doctor and orofacial pain specialist for nearly four decades. During that time, I’ve treated thousands of patients and have at my disposal many first-line therapies to help my patients feel better and get better (once an accurate diagnosis has been made). They include:

Nightguards or specifically designed oral appliances that address teeth clenching, grinding, and joint instability during sleep
At-home exercises
Anti-inflammatory and/or muscle relaxant medications
Stress-reducing activities such as meditation or yoga
Adherence to a soft diet
Reducing or eliminating the daytime behaviors that overwork the jaws
Physical therapy

While most of my patients respond well to the first-line therapies above, you may be someone for whom the above strategies simply don’t work. What’s next for you?

Injections For TMJ

I’m sure you’ve read about people having BOTOX® injections for TMJ problems, but BOTOX® is not the only injectable that can help. In fact, it is not the right choice for many patients. The good news is there are injections for TMJ that are less risky and can be very helpful to provide relief from TMJ pain. They include jaw muscle injections, injections into the tendons or ligaments, and injections into the temporomandibular joint itself.

Jaw Muscle Injections For TMJ

Trigger point injections, sometimes called dry needling, can help reduce the muscle spasms, tension, associated pain and limited jaw motion experienced by many TMJ sufferers. They’re also designed to reduce the likelihood of “referred” pain when irritated jaw muscles refer pain to other locations such as your teeth, ears and sinuses. With trigger point injections, the mechanical prodding of the muscle with a needle creates the benefit. Some providers inject a bit of Lidocaine, a local anesthetic, to make the procedure more comfortable. Trigger point injections are typically repeated several times before the spasms and muscle tension release. When combined with exercises and other home care techniques, trigger point injections for TMJ can be very effective for people whose problems have not responded to first-line treatments.

Tendon and Ligament Injections For TMJ

Sometimes first-line therapies fail because pain is due to stubborn and persistent inflammation in a jaw tendon or ligament. In this case, prolotherapy and steroid injections are often effective:

Prolotherapy, also known as proliferative therapy, involves a combination of dextrose and an anesthetic. Dextrose is a natural irritant that can kick-start your body’s natural healing response and the anesthetic helps deaden pain. When injected directly into damaged tendons and/or ligaments prolotherapy can strengthen and repair them. When combined with exercises and home care strategies, prolotherapy injections for TMJ can provide a great deal of relief from TMJ pain and also promote healing. The injections typically need to be repeated several times over a few months for full effectiveness.
Steroid injections into irritated tendons and ligaments can also provide life-changing relief from TMJ pain and usually are administered in a series. If overused, however, steroids carry some serious risks, so your steroid injections should be administered only under the guidance of an experienced clinician.

Injections Into The Jaw Joint

Some TMJ problems stem from inflammation or structural compromises in the jaw joint itself. They can’t move their jaw without severe pain and experience mechanical symptoms as well, such as clicking, popping, or locking and gravelly sounds emanating from the joint. Injections directly into the temporomandibular joint can often help. There are two types of joint injections for TMJ: steroids and hyaluronic acid.

Steroid injections are frequently used to ease pain in the knees, hips, shoulders, etc. So, it’s no surprise that steroids can also provide relief from pain in the TM joint. Depending upon the severity of your underlying joint problem, one shot may be all you need for life-changing pain relief. If your pain doesn’t diminish with just one injection, you may need a series. Proceed with caution because, as I mentioned above, steroid injections carry risks when overused.
Hyaluronic acid injections into the jaw joint are another strategy. Your jaw joint contains a substance called synovial fluid, which provides nourishment and shock absorption to keep them healthy. When there’s a change in the volume or quality of synovial fluid due to jaw overuse or trauma, the result can be pain and joint noises. When hyaluronic acid, a lubricating substance, is injected into the joint, the relief from TMJ pain and noises can be profound. Research suggests that hyaluronic acid also provides an anti-inflammatory effect. The only drawback to hyaluronic acid injections for TMJ is that the positive effects can be short-lived.

New Injections For TMJ Are On The Horizon!

Many research efforts show that over 30 million Americans have TMJ/TMD problems. Some problems are minor, but others can lead to life-compromising pain and jaw function limitations. There is a great need for earlier diagnoses and pain and discomfort management for people who suffer. There’s also a need for therapies that are specifically designed for treating stubborn and persistent TMJ problems.

Fortunately, emerging therapies such as stem cell and blood component injections may be able to regenerate new tissue in TM joints, ligaments and tendons. The research is very promising, and I suspect in the near future, these new and innovative types of injections will become commonplace for treating TMJ/TMD problems and provide the kind of healing that has not been achievable with other established injection therapies.

The Last Word

If you’re suffering from jaw problems, we know what you’re going through. Orofacial pain specialists like us have the knowledge to accurately diagnose your problem and the skills to help you find relief from TMJ pain, whether by first-line therapies or injections for TMJ. We invite you to set up a consultation with one of our Orofacial Pain specialists in the NYC metropolitan area. Our office locations and contact information are below. If you’re not in the NYC metropolitan area, go to the American Board Of Orofacial Pain and search for a physician with diplomate credentials in your area.

Feel Better!

3 Tips To Reduce Jaw Problems From Aligners

Over the last 10-15 years, the use of clear aligners has found a place, favored by many patients, amidst other traditional orthodontic techniques. When directed by an orthodontist or a trained dentist, tooth movement accomplished by the use of aligners can lead to better dental hygiene and periodontal health, create more stable bite relationships, and boost self-confidence as a result of improved smile esthetics. All of these are positive outcomes.

As a TMJ specialist, however, I see many patients who are in the midst of aligner therapy to straighten their teeth experiencing a variety of jaw symptoms. Some are receiving their care from a trained orthodontist or dentist, and some have opted for self-directed care using mail-order aligners. Either way, their complaints are typically the same: after wearing their aligners for several weeks or months, they have difficulty opening their mouths, their jaw joints are clicking and popping, and most often, they have jaw pain. If this sounds like you, I’d like to offer you some tips on how to reduce jaw problems from aligners.

But first, it’s essential to understand that aligner therapy is a form of orthodontic treatment, the same as old-fashioned metal braces. In fact, anything designed to move teeth is a form of orthodontic treatment. Over the past few years, I’ve identified some reasons why some people experience jaw problems from aligners, whether they’re under professional care or are wearing mail-order aligners. It all has to do with the posture and position of your jaw while your aligners are in place…

Jaw Problems – During The Day

When you wear your aligners during the majority of the daytime hours, there’s a pretty good chance that the aligners are in contact with each other. This may seem ok, but in reality, once the aligners are in contact the jaw is no longer at rest. In fact, the normal rest position of your jaw is hanging in a loose way with the lips relaxed and teeth apart. So, when your aligners are in contact, your jaw is not at rest but is in a braced and tense muscle posture.

As a result of the top and bottom aligners being in contact for hours on end, your jaw muscles can fatigue and the jaw joints are put in a braced position. As a result of being overworked, injury can occur, in a fashion common to all joints in your body. Injury leads to symptoms of soreness and pain in the muscles and the onset of joint clicking and popping. At times jaw motion can become restricted as a result of the joint and muscle injuries. This is often called lockjaw.

Unfortunately, there are times when a new aligner tray doesn’t seat fully on the teeth when first used. At these times, patients are often provided what are called ‘chewies’ and instructed to bite on them to help engage the trays fully onto the teeth, so that the planned tooth movement can occur. Though this may be an important step, it can’t possibly be good for the jaw joints and muscles!!

Jaw Problems – While You’re Asleep

Since aligners are always used during the sleeping hours, some patients notice that they are clenching their teeth (often for the first time in their lives). Others who recognized that they were always night clenchers without morning symptoms prior to the aligners being used, now experience jaw soreness and pain as the result of the aligners and wonder why. One reason may be that the top of the aligners are not commonly adjusted to make sure that when they do come together, the right and left sides hit evenly. For some patients, this imbalance is all that is needed to start an injury process. This imbalance can be overlooked even if you’re under the professional supervision of an orthodontist or dentist. So, if you’ve opted for mail-order aligners, this concern will definitely be overlooked. The bottom line, however, is that contact of the trays in any way for a sustained period of time increases the risk for jaw muscle and joint injuries to occur.

So, if you’re in the midst of treatment or are considering it, here are some tips I’ve put together that can reduce the risk of a jaw problem developing

3 Tips To Help Reduce Jaw Problems From Aligners

During the day, try to keep your upper and lower aligners separated. Your lower jaw should hang like a hammock in the breeze. If you find this difficult, try some breathing exercises to help you relax. My patients get great results from Buteyko breathing and techniques like those found online on Headspace, Calm, and Buddhify (links below).

If you’re under the care of an orthodontist or dentist and suspect that you have been clenching while you’re asleep, make an appointment to have your aligners adjusted. If you are indeed clenching, at least you’ll be clenching evenly on the right and the left sides. For those of you who’ve chosen self-directed mail-order aligner therapy, this is one of the risks.

If you suspect jaw problems from aligners are developing as a result of what is happening during your sleeping hours, speak to whoever is guiding your care and consider giving your jaw a rest, and don’t wear them for a week or so. Or, wear only one aligner at a time at night for a short period of time as long as contact against the teeth on the other arch is even.

Conclusion

Clear aligners are here to stay and clearly, patients will benefit on many levels from pursuing this innovative form of tooth movement. However, if you’re having jaw problems since starting with aligners, and are under the care of an orthodontist or dentist, make an appointment right to address your concerns, If you’ve opted to “fly on your own” with mail-order aligners and have noticed jaw pain, that your jaw is clicking or popping, or if you’re having trouble opening your mouth all the way, I strongly advise you to discontinue treatment and seek professional advice.

Helpful Links:

Tags Bruxism, Jaw Problems, Orofacial Pain

Orofacial Pain Trigeminal Neuralgia

What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Post author By Dr. Steven Syrop
Post date February 9, 2022
4 Comments on What Is Trigeminal Neuralgia?

This content was originally published on 2/9/2022 and reviewed on 6/19/2026

What is trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic nerve disorder that causes sudden, severe episodes of facial pain, typically on one side of the face. The pain is caused by irritation or compression of the trigeminal nerve and is often described as an electric shock or burning sensation. There is no cure, but medication, nerve blocks, and in some cases surgery can effectively manage symptoms.

Thousands of nerves and various neurological pathways run through our brain, and abnormalities or damage to those nerves can lead to chronic diseases. Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful disease that affects the trigeminal nerve, which runs through the face and upper jaw. Since its obvious spasms can be caused by touching the face, some patients mistake the symptoms for a dental issue when they first detect them while brushing their teeth. On the other hand, this disease is classified as a neurological problem rather than an oral health problem. Although there is no cure, there are ways to manage discomfort.

What Does Trigeminal Neuralgia Pain Feel Like?

Trigeminal nerve neuralgia causes sporadic to regular bouts of shooting facial pain that feels like a burn or an electrical shock. An episode can last anywhere from a few seconds to two minutes, and a person might be affected for an hour or more at a time.

Daily living might be tough for someone who suffers from facial neuralgia. Eating and speaking can be challenging as the disease progresses, and even routine facial touch such as shaving, flossing, or applying cosmetics can cause a wave of discomfort. Constant anxiety over the next episode can turn to depression and other mental health issues, which are just as challenging to deal with as the neuralgia itself.

What Causes Trigeminal Neuralgia?

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, trigeminal neuralgia is one of the most painful neurological conditions and is often caused by compression of the trigeminal nerve.

An artery or tumor pushes on the trigeminal nerve, causing the illness. As a result of this contact, the nerve is compressed, and its protective covering is damaged. This can happen due to nerve damage caused by sinus surgery, mouth surgery, head trauma, a stroke, or a complication of multiple sclerosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, this type of neuralgia affects people regardless of their age. However, it is most prevalent in adults 50 and over, and women are more likely to be affected.

Can Trigeminal Neuralgia Be Mistaken for a Toothache?

This disease may manifest as pain in the lips, nose, eyes, or forehead, in addition to imitating the teeth or gum discomfort of a dental issue. Those who have tooth sensitivity or discomfort and suspect it is trigeminal neuralgia need to consult their dentist because these symptoms might indicate something else if there are no other symptoms of the illness.

Can Trigeminal Neuralgia Be Mistaken for a TMJ Disorder?

Although trigeminal neuralgia and TMJ disorder can both cause facial pain, they differ significantly in their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment approaches.

Because the terms are often used interchangeably, many patients are confused about the difference between trigeminal nerve pain and trigeminal neuralgia.

How Is Trigeminal Neuralgia Diagnosed and Treated?

To diagnose trigeminal neuralgia, a comprehensive medical examination and history are necessary. After discussing the problem with the dentist and doctor, they will send you to a neurologist, who may conduct a head MRI or other imaging to confirm the condition and begin developing a treatment plan.

While there is no universal cure or therapy that will work for everyone, a TMJ specialist may prescribe pain management techniques. A doctor’s first line of defense against the disease is generally nonsurgical therapy.

The pain associated with neuralgia is neuropathic (originating directly from the nerve). Thus, it does not react to over-the-counter pain medications or opioids. Anticonvulsants like carbamazepine (which is used to treat seizures) can help to decrease discomfort and attacks. To help reduce facial “shocks,” a neurologist may prescribe a muscle relaxant or other medicine.

Learn more about our trigeminal neuralgia treatment approach.

How Do You Manage Living with Trigeminal Neuralgia?

If you have noticed signs of trigeminal neuralgia, talk to a TMJ specialist about the best ways to deal with the pain. You can also speak to a counselor about the mental health issues that come with the illness. The specialist can assist you in your recovery, regardless of your age or stage in life, so you will not have to worry about discomfort when flashing your smile.

Why New York City Metro Area Patients Are Referred to NYTMJ for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Patients are frequently referred to our practice after:

Multiple dental procedures failed to eliminate pain
TMJ treatment did not improve symptoms
MRI or neurological findings suggested trigeminal neuralgia
Persistent facial pain remained unexplained

Our specialists focus exclusively on disorders of the jaw, face, head, and trigeminal nerve system, allowing for a more precise diagnosis and individualized treatment plan.

REQUEST AN EVALUATION →

Frequently Asked Questions About Trigeminal Neuralgia

Is Trigeminal Neuralgia Curable?

There is currently no cure for trigeminal neuralgia, but medications, nerve blocks, and surgical procedures can often significantly reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

Is Trigeminal Neuralgia the Same as TMJ?

No. TMJ disorders affect the jaw joints and chewing muscles, while trigeminal neuralgia is a nerve condition.

How Long Do Trigeminal Neuralgia Attacks Last?

Individual episodes typically last from a few seconds to about two minutes.

What Triggers a Trigeminal Neuralgia Episode?

Light touch to the face, brushing teeth, shaving, washing the face, applying makeup, talking, chewing, and wind.

Can a Dentist Diagnose Trigeminal Neuralgia?

A dentist can rule out dental causes of pain, but diagnosis generally requires neurological evaluation.

Who Treats Trigeminal Neuralgia?

Treatment typically involves a neurologist and may also involve an orofacial pain specialist.

Can Trigeminal Neuralgia Cause Jaw Pain?

Yes. Many patients experience pain in the jaw, teeth, cheek, or lower face, which is one reason trigeminal neuralgia is often mistaken for TMJ disorders or dental conditions.

Tags Orofacial Pain, trigeminal neuralgia

Headaches Jaw Problems Nightguards & Oral Appliances Orofacial Pain TMJ

Which Type Of Dental Night Guard Is Right For You?

As an orofacial pain specialist, patients come to me when they’re suffering from the painful symptoms of a temporomandibular disorder, which you may know as TMJ. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, the joint that enables you to open and close your mouth. Many new patients who come to my office have been wearing a standard dental night guard (sometimes called an oral appliance, occlusal splint, or mouth guard) while they sleep, but their symptoms are not improving or even getting worse. Before I explain which type of dental night guard is right for you, I want to make sure you understand TMJ and its causes.

First, What Causes TMJ?

Symptoms of jaw (TMJ) problems often arise due to sleep bruxism, a condition characterized by constantly grinding or clenching your teeth during sleep. Sleep bruxism affects about 10% of adults and up to 15% of children.

The American Dental Association has been surveying dentists about TMJ since the beginning of the pandemic. More than 70% report a significant increase of patients who are grinding and clenching their teeth both during sleep and while awake (called awake bruxism) – many of whom never had the issue before. Some patients even have cracked or broken teeth as a result of bruxing. Bruxism is thought to be related to several risk factors, including high-stress levels – so it comes as no surprise that this increase coincides with the pandemic.

How To Determine Which Type of Dental Night Guard Is Right For You

If you’re like many people, your dentist may have informed you that your teeth are becoming flat and worn-down because of grinding and clenching while you’re asleep. Your dentist may have recommended you start wearing a dental night guard while you sleep, or you may have already purchased one over-the-counter at your pharmacy.

If this sounds familiar, the standard type of night guard made by your dentist is probably adequate. However, over-the-counter night guards must be used with caution and for a limited amount of time because they can cause your teeth to shift.

However, if you’re one of those people who have a sense that something’s wrong because your teeth are sore, or your jaw muscles feel tight when you wake up in the morning, or if you have any of the symptoms listed below, a standard guard made by your dentist or an over-the-counter night guard you buy at a pharmacy is probably not the dental night guard that’s right for you.

All Dental Night Guards Are Not The Same

TMJ problems often involve the structures of your temporomandibular joints and usually require more evaluation and different types of dental night guards for your specific problem. If you suffer from any of the TMJ symptoms below, a standard dental night guard will likely not address your specific problem and could even make your problems worse.

Symptoms of TMJ:

Difficulty opening your mouth
Pain (beyond soreness or discomfort) when opening/closing your mouth
Jaw pain when you eat
Clicking or popping in your jaw during movement
A sense that your jaw is locked
A feeling that your bite is “off”
Daily pain and tension in your face
Headaches when you wake up
Tension or pain in your neck

Like other joint systems in your body, TM joint problems are orthopedic problems. There are ligaments that support your jaw joints and shock-absorbing discs that cushion them. And, there’s also a lubrication system that keeps your TMJs moist and nourished. These all can become compromised due to teeth grinding and clenching, whether it happens while you’re asleep, during the day, or both.

The result is often injury to your TMJs resulting in sprains, instability and painful inflammation. Sometimes, the pressure of grinding and clenching can even cause one of your shock-absorbing discs to change and cause joint noises, lockjaw and pain.

What To Do Next

Your next step is to make an appointment with an orofacial pain specialist. An orofacial pain specialist will likely provide you with a clear understanding of your problem (a specific diagnosis beyond “you have TMJ.”). And explain why your jaw muscles and joints are in trouble and what treatments are available in addition to a dental night guard. Many factors can give rise to a TMJ problem, so you will likely be asked questions about your medical health, mental health, sleep, dental history, and about you as a person.

Based on the information gathered and an examination, there’s a good chance your orofacial pain specialist will fabricate a dental night guard that’s right for you – designed to address your specific orthopedic problem – not just to protect your teeth. Factors like the thickness of the night guard, its surface (flat or designed to prevent shifting of the lower jaw), its use on the upper or lower teeth, and where the support is provided are just some of the factors that will be considered.

To find an orofacial pain specialist in your area, ask your dentist for a referral or check the directory at the American Board of Orofacial Pain website.

Your Dental Night Guard Needs To Be Monitored

A diagnosis beyond “You have TMJ” is essential in designing a night guard that will reduce strain and injury to your jaw muscles and tendons, joint ligaments, shock-absorbing discs and lubrication systems. Here’s the most important thing to understand: regardless of whether your dental night guard was designed by your dentist or an orofacial pain specialist, it will not stop your bruxism. When properly designed, your night guard will instead reduce the impact on your teeth, muscles and TMJs caused by your grinding and clenching. In essence, it lets you clench or grind in a “better neighborhood” with the goal of keeping more injury from occurring while you work on reducing the risk factors that caused your jaw to be in trouble in the first place.

And, because a well-constructed dental night guard redistributes force, it must be monitored and adjusted while healing occurs and your symptoms change. It’s essential to go in for regularly scheduled reassessments and modifications to maximize the potential for treatment to be successful.

So, Which Type Of Dental Night Guard Is Right For You?

If you wake up with any of the TMJ symptoms above – even if you’ve been wearing a dental night guard, do not give up hope! A more specific diagnosis, a better understanding of why you have the problem, and a night guard designed to address your individual symptoms may well be the answer. Based upon the nature of your problem, more comprehensive care is usually part of the plan, which may include exercises, stress-reducing activities such as mediation or yoga, medication, dry needling and trigger point injections, BOTOX® injections or joint injections. These decisions are best made by an orofacial pain specialist.

Feel better!

Learn more about TMJ and bruxism here

Tags Bruxism, Headaches, Jaw Problems, Oral Appliances, Orofacial Pain, TMJ

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Orofacial Pain

Receiving Oral Medicine Treatment From A Craniofacial Pain Specialist

Post author By Dr. Steven Syrop
Post date July 15, 2021
No Comments on Receiving Oral Medicine Treatment From A Craniofacial Pain Specialist

Looking for information on oral medicine treatment provided by a craniofacial pain specialist? This type of dental professional is one who has furthered their education by undergoing additional dental training, as well as medical training. This additional training allows them to treat their patients using both dental and medical treatment options, which includes oral medicine.

About oral medicine

According to the American Academy of Oral Medicine, oral medicine is defined as the discipline of dentistry concerned with the oral health care of medically complex patients, including the diagnosis and management of medical conditions that affect the oral and maxillofacial region. An appointment with a craniofacial pain specialist will result in treatment that includes a combination of medicine and dentistry.

A shortlist of some of the more common dental or medical issues someone may be experiencing that requires them to make an appointment with this type of dental professional includes being diagnosed with an oral disease or disorder, a temporomandibular joint disorder, a salivary gland disease, halitosis, oral lesions and oral cancer

Receiving oral medicine treatment

The list below includes some of the more common types of dental-related problems that require someone to undergo oral medicine treatments provided by craniofacial pain specialists.

Burning mouth syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome is a dental problem that causes patients to experience a burning feeling of pain inside of their mouths. The fact that it can be very difficult to understand the underlying cause of this syndrome, can make it difficult to treat. It is important for those suffering from this syndrome to know whether they have primary or secondary burning syndrome, as treatment depends on the type they have.

Dry mouth

When a patient is diagnosed with dry mouth, it means that their salivary glands are not able to produce enough saliva in order to keep their mouth moist, which is important to their overall good dental health. In order for a patient to be treated when they have been diagnosed with dry mouth, it is important for a craniofacial pain specialist to first understand the underlying factors in order to properly treat the patient.

Canker sores

While many people have experienced one or more canker sores during their lifetime, when it has been determined that a patient is living with a severe case of canker sores, they may benefit from undergoing oral medicine treatment. Canker sores often appear on the tongue, cheeks, lips and soft palate of the mouth, which can cause those diagnosed to experience a tingling or burning sensation often, diminishing their overall quality of life.

Get started with oral medicine services

Oral medicine is often necessary in order to treat complex dental problems. Working with a craniofacial pain specialist is the best place to start. An evaluation can be done in order to determine what the problem is. Then, an oral medicine treatment plan can be outlined and tackled. Reach out today to get started or to learn more.

Request an appointment here: https://www.stevensyropdds.com or call Steven B. Syrop, DDS at (212)-969-9166 for an appointment in our New York office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Oral Medicine in New York, NY.

Headaches Jaw Problems Nightguards & Oral Appliances Orofacial Pain Sleep Apnea TMJ

How To Evaluate Yourself For TMJ

Post author By Donald Tanenbaum DDS MPH - Board-Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist at New York TMJ & Orofacial Pain
Post date April 12, 2021
No Comments on How To Evaluate Yourself For TMJ

Note: This article explains how to evaluate yourself for TMJ, what you can do about it, and how to determine when you need to get some professional help.

This past year’s pandemic challenges have led more people to seek care for TMJ problems than ever before. In fact, you may be reading this article because you’ve had your first experience of TMJ during the past year.

If you suffer from these kinds of problems, there are some steps you can take to relieve your symptoms. But before you try to evaluate yourself for TMJ, you must first understand the risk factors that led to your jaw being in trouble in the first place.

As an orofacial pain specialist for the past 35 years, I have treated thousands of patients who came to me suffering from jaw problems. They usually arrive at my office with complaints of jaw pain or stiffness, headaches in their temples, or facial pain that, in some cases, is taking over their lives. Many have limited jaw opening, joint popping and/or cracking. Some even experience locked jaws upon waking up in the morning.

While a traumatic event such as a car accident or an underlying medical disorder or treatment can be the culprit, for most people a wide variety of risk factors can cause TMJ pain problems. It is my job to properly diagnose, identify the causes, help my patients cope with TMJ – and eventually, get better.

Before You Evaluate Yourself For TMJ, You Must Understand What TMJ Is

The most important thing to understand about TMJ problems is that they are orthopedic in nature. Just like any other muscle and joint structure in your body – knees and shoulders, for example – if they become overworked, sprained, fatigued or injured, pain and instability will arise. Your jaw muscles and jaw joints (TMJs) are no different. An orthopedic problem can’t be treated until what is causing the pain is identified. It’s the same for TMJ problems.

How To Evaluate Yourself For TMJ – Identify The Cause & Make Changes

TMJ problems can involve your muscles, joints or both. To evaluate yourself for TMJ joint problems, pay attention to whether the pain is in front of your ear when you move your jaw or touch the area and if your jaw joints click, pop and/or lock. If you can answer yes to both questions, you should not try to cure yourself. See a dentist with experience in TMJ care or a TMJ specialist in your area right away. (There’s a link at the bottom of this page to the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, where you can find a specialist in your area.)

To evaluate yourself for TMJ muscle problems, you would probably describe your symptoms as soreness, stiffness, spasms or achiness. If you push your fingers firmly along your jawline or into your temples, you will experience more pain than you expected. Your jaw motion may be limited but it’s not accompanied by joint clicking or popping sounds.

If you’ve determined your TMJ problem is of the muscle variety, your next step is to figure out why and how your muscles became so irritable in the first place. To do so, you’ll need to do a little investigating to find out what is happening in your life during the day and at night.

6 Daytime Behaviors & Postures That Could Be Causing Your TMJ Problems

Starting today, pay careful attention to your daytime behaviors and postures, particularly while you’re working. Working behaviors and postures are some of the leading causes of TMJ problems. And, working at home is a big reason for the considerable increase of people seeking care during the past year.

When you evaluate yourself for TMJ of the muscle variety, look for these six common daytime behaviors that could be causing your jaw or neck muscles to fatigued:

Your head leans forward while you work at your computer.
You consistently look down at your phone.
You hold your breath or take shallow quick breaths with your mouth open.
You brace your jaw muscles (but your teeth are not clenched).
You often keep your teeth clenched.
You bite your nails and/or cuticles, cheeks, lips or tongue.

Did you identify any of the six behaviors or postures above during your workday? If you said yes, believe it or not, that is good news! Because if you can start eliminating them right away. And there’s a pretty good chance you can start feeling better right away, too.

Start by paying attention to your breathing patterns. If you discover that you hold your breath or breathe shallowly, go online and search for “restful breathing techniques.” You’ll see a lot of results and almost any you choose will help. Also, take more breaks. And make some adjustments to your workstation to improve your head posture. (Here’s a helpful guide). Also, download a reminder app such as Time Out for Mac that will help you remember to take breaks.

5 Nighttime Factors That Could Be Causing Your TMJ Problems

An essential step in evaluating yourself for TMJ is identifying what is happening to your jaw muscles, jaw joints or neck muscles while you’re asleep. This, understandably, is not easy – but it’s definitely doable. If you consistently wake up with jaw or neck pain, tightness in your jaw, or headaches – you can assume one or more of the following four factors are present:

Insomnia – You have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
Fragmented Sleep – Your sleep is full of lots of small arousals. Your brain wakes you up numerous times during the night.
Inadequate Sleep – You routinely get less than the recommended hours of sleep. (See the link at the bottom of this page to determine what is recommended for your age group).
Bruxism – You clench and/or grind your teeth while you sleep.
Breathing Problems – You struggle with breathing due to nasal or other airway restrictions while you sleep.

If you suspect factors 1, 2 or 3, try one or more of the following:

Take melatonin at bedtime.
Don’t drink coffee after noon.
Don’t use your electronic devices late into the evening.
Stop all work-related activities one hour before going to bed.
Read a good book.
Exercise in the morning instead of after work.
Eat dinner earlier.
Practice some breathing exercises before you get into bed.
Try some gentle stretching or yoga before bed.

If you suspect factor 3 – Bruxism – this is for you:

If you wake up occasionally with sore teeth but nothing more severe than that, consider purchasing an over-the-counter oral appliance at your local pharmacy. (Note: there are many terms for oral appliances such as mouthguards, bite plates, and teeth protectors – they all mean pretty much the same thing.)

If your symptoms get better after wearing your over-the-counter oral appliance at night for several weeks, your next step is to visit your dentist to be fitted for a custom oral appliance. This is very important because wearing an oral appliance over a long period of time that is not custom-fitted can lead to complications such as shifting teeth, bite changes and even airway obstruction.

If your symptoms do not get better after wearing your over-the-counter oral appliance it’s time for you to get some professional help. Make an appointment with your dentist or an orofacial pain specialist. (See the link at the bottom of this page to the American Academy of Orofacial Pain to find an orofacial pain specialist).

If you suspect Factor 4 – Breathing Problems – here’s what to do:

If your self-evaluation for TMJ leads you to suspect you have a nighttime breathing problem – it may be sleep apnea and you must see a sleep professional right away. Your struggle to breathe at night is likely reducing airflow and causing your blood oxygen to lower. That places excess stress on your body.

You should opt for an overnight sleep evaluation monitored by a professional. (Link here to find a sleep center near you.) If the sleep evaluation indicates you do have a sleep breathing disorder such as apnea, there are many options for you after the sleep study. You may be told to sleep on your side, wear nasal strips, use a custom-made oral appliance, or lose weight. Many people find that a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine is a lifesaver. (Read: What Is CPAP?) In severe cases, nasal surgery, orthodontics, jaw advancement or another correction surgery may be the solution.

How To Evaluate Yourself For TMJ – In Conclusion

Let’s say you have been able to get your TMJ problems under control by changing one or more of the six daytime behaviors above. That is great. And even if your nighttime behaviors are of the Factors 1, 2, or 3 variety and you tried some of the simple solutions I recommend, there’s a chance you’re already feeling better.

TMJ problems, however, are often caused by several risk factors. For you, relief may only be achieved with a professional approach. Take a little bit of time to find a trained orofacial pain practitioner in your area and you should be able to get on the road to feeling better very soon.

Helpful Links:

American Academy Of Orofacial Pain (Look for a provider with Diplomate status)

How Many Hours Of Sleep Are Enough For Good Health?

Tags Bruxism, CPAP, Headaches, Jaw Problems, Locked Jaw, Lockjaw, Oral Appliances, Orofacial Pain, Sleep Apnea, Teeth Grinding, TMJ

BOTOX® Jaw Problems Orofacial Pain TMJ

7 Things To Know If You’re Considering BOTOX® Injections For Your TMJ

As an orofacial pain specialist and an expert in the treatment of temporomandibular disorder (commonly referred to as “TMJ”), most patients who seek my care have been suffering from persistent jaw pain, tightness, and soreness due to overstressed muscles – often for years. Tension in the masseter (jaw) muscles are at the root of this disorder and can be caused by several factors, with bruxism being the most common.

If you’re considering BOTOX® injections for your TMJ, there are a few things you should know.

Bruxism comes in two forms: awake bruxism and sleep bruxism. Awake bruxism is excessive contact of the teeth during the day. Your teeth should never be in frequent contact during waking hours. Consistently clenching or grinding your teeth while sleeping is called Sleep Bruxism.

Orofacial pain specialists like myself have been carefully turning to BOTOX® injections for TMJ problems for the last few years. While BOTOX® injections were initially approved to reduce facial wrinkles and frown lines, the medical community has recognized its use to help patients who have migraines and other conditions, including TMJ. If you’re considering BOTOX® injections for your TMJ because nothing else has worked, here’s what you need to know and understand:

7 Things To Know If You’re Considering BOTOX® Injections For TMJ

1. BOTOX® Reduces Muscle Contraction

When injected into the masseter muscles, BOTOX® reduces their ability to contract fully. During the 3-4 months after you’ve had injections, your masseters will exert a lower amount of force than normal. While your brain may be telling your muscles to contract with a normal amount of force, as long as the BOTOX® is active, they simply can’t.

2. BOTOX® Can Provide Some Pain Relief

When BOTOX® is injected into muscles, it causes the muscle to relax, and less lactic acid and other pain-producing chemicals accumulate. As a result, the nerve endings within the muscle tissue become less irritated and sends fewer pain signals to the brain.

At the same time, BOTOX® also directly reduces the release of pain-producing chemicals (neuro-transmitters) by the nerve endings in the muscles. That’s one of the reasons why BOTOX® reduces pain in migraine sufferers.

3. BOTOX® Stays Where It’s Put

When injected by a trained clinician, BOTOX® will not typically diffuse into neighboring tissues – as long as the proper volume and technique are used.

To treat TMJ, BOTOX® injections typically go into your masseter and temporalis muscles, which are the muscles responsible for closing your jaw from an open position. BOTOX® is sometimes also injected into your lateral pterygoid muscles – the ones that allow you to open your mouth and move your jaw from side-to-side.

4. BOTOX® Is Not A Stand-Alone Treatment For TMJ

Symptoms such as jaw locking or clicking are usually caused by loose ligaments and changes in the position of your shock-absorbing disc. BOTOX® injections do not predictably help these problems. Nor can BOTOX® minimize inflammatory pain in your TMJs.

Locking, clicking, and disc problems require a different level of care. Therefore, an accurate diagnosis is absolutely necessary before BOTOX® injections are considered. When chosen, BOTOX® is commonly complimentary to other TMJ treatments such as medication, oral appliances, exercises, meditation, and physical therapy. This is very important to understand if you’re considering BOTOX® injections for your TMJ.

5. BOTOX® Injections Should Be Administered By A Healthcare Provider Who Has A True Understanding of TMJ Problems

Knowing how to inject BOTOX® is only part of the equation. The practitioner doing the injecting must fully understand how the jaw works, the risk factors that lead to muscle pain and over development, and how a patient’s bite relationships relate to their jaw muscles. A trained dentist or dental specialist is likely best equipped to answer these questions and provide the education that is needed to assure treatment results.

6. BOTOX® Injections For TMJ Are Not (Usually) A Once-And-Done Therapy

Most people who end up having BOTOX® injections for TMJ have been suffering for many years. One series of injections alone will rarely if ever, solve the problem. Many patients who find relief after the first series of injections can see their symptoms return, particularly if the pertinent risk factors (what caused the problem in the first place) have not been identified and addressed. If you’re considering BOTOX® injections for your TMJ and plan for only one series of injections, you’ll likely be disappointed.

7. BOTOX® Injections Can Give You A Slimmer Jawline

BOTOX® is becoming an accepted solution for people who are unhappy with the shape of their jaw. If your masseter muscles are enlarged due to bruxism or daily habits such as gum chewing, BOTOX® injections can be extremely helpful in slimming its appearance.

After a series of injections, BOTOX® will increase the amount of collagen and fat in your masseters and shrink the size of muscle fibers. This is why slimming occurs. Along with muscle slimming, BOTOX® injections can also weaken the muscles making chewing more difficult. This is why a trained practitioner is advised.

BOTOX®: A Tool, Not A Cure

BOTOX® injections for TMJ are not a cure. They are, however, a vital tool of orofacial practitioners like me. If your doctor or dentist has tried everything, and you’re still suffering, BOTOX® may be your next step. Make sure that the person who administers your injections is highly knowledgeable, skilled, and trained in using BOTOX® injections for TMJ.

Choose carefully.

(Learn more here: All About BOTOX® For TMJ)

Live or work in New York City or on Long Island? You can schedule a consultation with me here or call 212-265-0110.

Tags Orofacial Pain, TMJ

Orofacial Pain TMJ

Orofacial Pain & TMJ Consultations Online – A New Era

An outcome of the coronavirus pandemic is orofacial pain specialists are conducting TMJ consultations online. The new era has begun…

As a dentist whose focus is directed toward treating orofacial pain and TMJ/TMD problems, I have seen first-hand the impact of life’s worries and challenges on people of all ages.

In normal times people seek my services because their jaw muscles are sore, tired, and aching. Any number of issues, from financial worries, relationship trouble, medical stress, family problems, poor sleep, or workplace tension, can upset the brain leading to muscle tightness and, ultimately, the onset of symptoms.

When your brain is upset, what would normally be perceived as tolerable pain can become so severe that it affects your life.

The Connection Between The Upset Brain & TMJ

A very common consequence of an upset brain is tooth and clenching and/ or bracing of the jaw muscles even without tooth contact. These activities can occur while you sleep, during the day, or both, overworking the jaw muscles and setting the stage for disruptive jaw or face pain, persistent toothaches, cracking/popping in the jaw joints, and the potential onset of TMJ problems (you can read more about TMJ here).

The current pandemic is affecting everyone. Even those who felt we had our lives under control before the crisis now face a threat we have few skills to confront. This stress can lead to an upset brain.

Therefore, it’s no mystery why patients currently under care, past patients, and those who never sought my care before are reaching out – desperate for relief.

TMJ Consultations Online Now

During the COVID pandemic, we were not to go about business as usual. But we have been able to address the pain relief needs of patients with online TMJ consultations. For a number of years, these telehealth options have been available, but it took a crisis like the pandemic to make orofacial and TMD pain practitioners all over the world realize how invaluable and effective online consultation visits can be!!!

It turns out that TMJ consultations online give me the opportunity to meet the person behind the symptoms, and do it in a safe and low-stress atmosphere. TMJ consultations also enable a spouse, partner, or other family members to be in attendance as a second set of eyes and ears.

And an added and unexpected benefit of TMJ consultations online is they enable patients, particularly those who are new to my practice, to meet me without my face obscured by a mask, glasses, and shield.

TMJ Consultations Online In The Future

TMJ consultations online will never fully replace the benefits gained by hands-on examinations in my office. However, I foresee I’ll be using them to reduce the time new patients need to spend in my office – by about 30 minutes. Until social distancing becomes less critical, reducing the time we all physically spend together is an important consideration.

I am grateful for platforms such as Zoom and Doxy as we move into our “new normal.” I clearly see that the use of technology, combined with imagination, and an ongoing commitment to providing safe and thoughtful care, will enable patients to get the care they need when they need it and for practitioners like myself, to provide it.

Today, TMJ consultations online for new patients are an innovative concept. In the future, they just may be the norm.

If an online consultation is of interest to you, please send an email to office@drtanenbaum.com with your contact information. A staff member will reach out to you.

Tags Orofacial Pain, TMJ

Can a medical condition cause TMJ pain?

You Deserve to Be Taken Seriously

Why Your Jaw Muscles May Be the Messenger, Not the Problem

Can Autoimmune Conditions Cause Jaw Pain?

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lupus

Psoriatic Arthritis

Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

Can Lyme Disease Cause Jaw Pain?

You Are Not Starting From Scratch

Are You Experiencing Jaw Pain That Isn't Responding to Treatment in the NYC Metropolitan Area?

About the Author

Frequently Asked Questions About Medical Conditions That Can Cause TMJ Pain

What Is Different About a TMJ Evaluation Compared to a Regular Dental Visit?

What Does the Physical Examination Involve?

Why Does the Specialist Ask So Many Questions About Life Outside the Jaw?

How Is TMJ Treated in Teenagers?

How Long Does TMJ Treatment Last for a Teenager?

What Are ICR and JIA, and When Should They Be on your Radar?

Is Your Child Dealing With Jaw Problems in the New York City Metropolitan Area?

About the Author

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is TMJ?

Why Does TMD So Often Start During the Teen Years?

Why Are Girls More Likely to Develop TMD During Puberty?

Can a Teenager Have Both TMD and Migraine at the Same Time?

Can Braces or Aligners Make TMD Worse?

Can ADHD Medication or Antidepressants Cause Jaw Clenching?

How Does Poor Sleep Make Teen TMD Symptoms Worse?

Does Stress Really Cause Physical Jaw Pain?

Is Your Child Experiencing TMJ or Jaw Pain Symptoms in the New York City Metropolitan Area?

About the Author

Frequently Asked Questions about Jaw Pain in Teenagers

Further Reading

When the issue is joint instability, not tightness

When Your Symptoms Do Not Fit the Usual Pattern

The Role of TMJ Hypermobility – Why the Jaw Becomes Painful

Why the Jaw Becomes Painful

A Common Pattern

Why Treatment Has Not Worked

Treatment Focus: Stability and Control

Setting the Right Expectations

When to Seek Evaluation

Moving Forward

DO YOU HAVE TMJ AND A HYPERMOBILITY DISORDER IN THE NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA?

Helping Patients Better Understand Their Persistent Symptoms

Why This Happens in Women

The Emergence of TMJ Symptoms

A More Complete Understanding for Women

Are You a Woman Experiencing TMJ Symptoms in the NYC Metropolitan Area?

Have you been told “everything looks fine” while you’re still suffering? You’re not alone.

There really was nothing wrong with the tooth

Why does muscle pain feel like tooth pain?

How did we figure out what was really going on?

Jason’s pain patterns revealed the truth

Could this be what’s happening to you?

What you can do right now

How to get help

Frequently Asked Questions About Tooth Pain When the Dentist Finds Nothing Wrong

Referred Pain & Its Relationship To TMD Problems

Orofacial Pain Specialists Understand What You’re Going Through

How To Get Help Now

The #1 Reason For TMJ Pain Is Overworked Jaw Muscles

Your TMJ Pain May Well Be Tied To Your Emotions

The Link Between Overworked Jaw Muscles & Prescription Medications

What To Do Next

7 Common Questions About BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment

1. What Is BOTOX®?

2. What’s The Difference Between BOTOX® For Wrinkles & BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment?

3. How Long Does It Take For BOTOX® To Kick-In?

4. How Long Will The Benefits Last?

5. How Many Injections Will I Need?

6. What Are The Side Effects Of BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment?

7. Will I Need Long-Term, BOTOX® Injection Sessions?

BOTOX® For TMJ Treatment – The Bottom Line

What Causes TMJ/TMD Problems?

First-Line Therapies For Relief From TMJ Pain

Injections For TMJ

Jaw Muscle Injections For TMJ

Tendon and Ligament Injections For TMJ