Patients usually feel these sorts of pain in front of the ears, on temporamandibular joints,
face and neck muscles. These sort of pains and complaints have been occurring more frequently in recent years.
The most common causes include exposure of the jaw to trauma, long-lasting dental treatments that
require a wide opening of the mouth; bruxism meaning grinding, gnashing or clenching the teeth;
habits of sustained biting of lips or foreign objects, abnormal placement of the upper and lower jaws in relation to each
other or open spaces on the dental arch due to a number of teeth extractions not filled in by dentures, etc.
Making an accurate diagnosis is critical. Conservative treatments include orthodontic appliances applied during the night
(night guards, splints), physical therapy, and patient training; the treatment success is over 85%.
What causes pain in the temporomandibular joint (joints of the jaws) and on the face?
The most common causes include exposure of the jaw to trauma, long-lasting dental treatments that require a wide opening of the mouth; bruxism meaning grinding, gnashing or clenching the teeth; habits of sustained biting of lips or foreign objects, abnormal placement of the upper and lower jaws in relation to each other or open spaces on the dental arch due to a number of teeth extractions not filled in by dentures, etc.
What are the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular joint pain and facial pain?
These are the pain, occurring in front of the ear, on the temporomandibular joint, on the muscles of the face and neck or on the temples. These types of pain may have an insidious onset, may emerge suddenly or they may sometimes appear with severe intensity. They may also be confused with headaches or pain due to a migraine or neuralgia. Besides the symptom of pain, there may often appear with limited mouth opening, deviation in the lower jaw, peculiar sounds originating from the jaw joint, closed lock of the jaw, lower jaw opening only possible with a sliding motion in one direction or chewing difficulties.
What is the treatment for facial pain or pain on the temporomandibular joint?
Making an accurate diagnosis is critical. Conservative treatments include orthodontic appliances applied during the night (night guards, splints), physical therapy, and patient training; the treatment success is over 85%.
