Orofacial Pain
Below you will find several types of orofacial pain described that might not be commonly known by your general dentist.
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment, please ask for a Pain Consultation when reaching out.
Temporo-Mandibular-Disorders TMDs
Jaw Pain
”Clicky” Jaws’
Some patients can suffer from clicking jaws, sometimes it is only one jaw joint, other times it could be both. These clicks can occur while opening the mouth, eating, also while yawning.
There are some studies showing a percentage of 30-50% of the population being aware of a clicking jaw joint.
You might become worried of these noises but as long as no pain or increase occurs, it is more bothersome socially rather than a health issue.
In some circumstances, the jaw will become painful, that is when the clicking jaw can then become a health concern.
"What kind of noises can I distinguish from my jaw joints?"
- A snapping or clicking sound when opening and/or closing the mouth. This sound is usually short, can snap quite aggressively, and can even be audible to people surrounding you.
- Sometimes the noise coming from your TMJ(s) might not be snapping but rather gritty. Clinicians might refer to it as crepitation.
This usually occurs in elderly patients from years of joint remodelling and arthrosis.
But is known that other causes can make this happen in younger people too. This gritty sound can be due to changes within the joint, more specifically the cartilage. It usually is not audible to your surroundings and only you usually can hear this.
These noises can become painful when the joint is overloaded and over-used. An inflammatory reaction then starts and pain arises.
" What are Temporomandibular disorders?"
Jaw Joint and chewing muscle disorders, complaints, and pain are called Temporomandibular disorders. They are linked to a wide range of symptoms.
Possible symptoms - Most known:
- Click felt in or in front of your ear while opening the mouth. This click can be benign and harmless as a result of remodelling to adjust to your lifestyle, environment, changing anatomy, etc. As previously noted, 30-50% of the population may experience a clicking sound in their TMJ.
- Pain in the jaws
- Limited opening of the mouth
- Stiff and sore jaws
- Headaches
- Pain to one or both ears which can in rare cases increase Tinnitus
- Fatigue when chewing
- Lack of sleep
Most common causes
The biggest risk factor is overstimulation of the chewing-system. Consistently using your TMJs and chewing muscles improperly can lead to overload, inflammation, tendinopathy, and pain over time.
The chewing system’s main functions are eating, swallowing, and it also helps with breathing. Most TMD patients do a lot more with their jaws than what the TMJs are intended to do. These extra actions are called parafunctional habits.
The most renowned parafunctional habit is teeth grinding. However, this is often not the most commonly present parafunctional habit. More often, TMD patients are teeth clenchers, tongue tenser, lip biter, nail biters, cheek chewers etc.
These most often occur during the day. They are subconscious coping mechanisms for the brain, who uses muscles (our strength organ) to handle a difficult situation. They can occur while:
- Having stress
- Doing repetitive work like typing, cutting veggies etc
- Lifting heavy weights, like carrying groceries, children, going to the gym etc
- Or during moments of deep concentration
Sadly, mostly night-time parafunctions are highlighted by dental professionals even if they are in the minority. Sleep bruxism is the sleeping disorder that causes parafunctions to happen during ones’ sleep. It is very important to differentiate both as there is scientific evidence showing that day-time bruxers are more likely to develop insomnia. If therapy for sleep bruxism is started when inappropriate, then insomnia can get worse.
If you suffer from TMDs, don't hesitate to reach out and book a TMD appointment with Amandine at Vere Dental-Aesthetics in Battersea.
