Jaw pain
Jaw pain and the jaw joint
Jaw pain is aching, tiredness, clicking or catching in the joint in front of your ear or in the muscles you chew with, and this visit is for adults who have it.
You use your jaw all day to talk, chew and swallow. When it hurts, the cause can be the joint, the muscles, the way your teeth meet, or something outside the mouth. Our job is to sort out which parts are ours.
What happens
Plan on a long first visit, then a check-in a few weeks later.
- 01
Step 1: Your story
We ask when it began, what sets it off and what you have already tried, and write it down with you.
- 02
Step 2: The exam
We measure how far and how straight your jaw opens, feel the muscles and the joint, and check how your teeth meet. You can ask us to stop at any point.
- 03
Step 3: Images, if they help
X-rays or a scan only when the exam says they will change what we do. We tell you why before we take one.
- 04
Step 4: A plan in writing
Your options in plain words: waiting, home care, a night guard or a referral, with a written estimate. You decide.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
The exam needs no numbing. If a treatment later calls for it, we explain what we use, and you can ask for a break at any time.
If you wait
Some jaw pain eases by itself. If yours is getting worse, spreading, or changing how you eat, talk or sleep, it is worth having it looked at. A jaw that locks is not a thing to wait on.
Risks and after-care
Soft food and resting the jaw carry little risk. A night guard can change how your teeth meet and feel odd at first; we check it at a follow-up and adjust it or stop. We go through each option's risks before you choose.
How it's billed
Dental plans often limit coverage for jaw-joint care, and some medical plans pay for parts of it. We check what your plan says and give a written estimate before treatment.
How fees work
What we look at, and when we refer
What we look at
How far and how straight your jaw opens
The chewing and neck muscles
The joint, by touch and by sound
How your teeth meet, and any wear
What you tell us about sleep, stress and habits
When we refer
Your jaw locks open or shut
You had a recent injury to your face or jaw
An image shows damage to the joint
Pain spreads, or comes with numbness or weakness
A fair trial of the first steps hasn't helped. We refer to a dentist limited to orofacial pain, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, or your physician.
Questions about jaw pain and the jaw joint
Is a clicking jaw a problem?
Many people have a click that never bothers them. We only act when it hurts or limits how you eat or talk.
Will I need a night guard?
Not everyone does. Dr. Mukherjee decides after the exam and explains why, or why not.
Are you a TMJ specialist?
No. Dr. Mukherjee is a general dentist, and jaw-pain care by a general dentist is not a recognized dental specialty. We refer when you need more.
Can you promise the pain will go away?
No. We tell you what we found and what the options usually do, and results vary.
Do I need a referral to come?
No. You can book directly. If we think you need a doctor or another kind of dentist, we say so and help arrange it.
Provided by a general dentist
Dr. Radha Mukherjee, DDS, general dentist, licensed in Michigan. This is not specialty care.