A painful jaw and a click or TMJ treatment sound when chewing are common signs of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). TMD can affect one or both sides of your face and usually doesn’t go away on its own. It can last a few weeks or years and can interfere with your daily life. Some people have minor symptoms that improve on their own, while others may need treatment from a doctor or dentist trained in treating TMJ.

To diagnose TMD, your doctor will do a physical examination of your jaw. They will check the range of motion in your jaw and ask questions about your pain, swelling, tingling or numbness, how you open and close your mouth and if your bite feels off. A CT or MRI scan is often used to help determine the cause of your TMD.

Invisalign Cost Breakdown: Factors That Affect Pricing

Some treatments for TMD include self-management and home therapy, including ice or moist heat packs, gentle jaw exercises and relaxation techniques to reduce stress, and avoiding hard foods, gum chewing, and wide yawning. Medications, including pain relievers and anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants, can also help. Injections are also an option. A 2020 study found that supplementing TMD arthrocentesis with steroid injections can provide longer-lasting pain management and improved jaw movement.

Surgery for TMD is not always necessary, and it should be considered a last resort when all other non-surgical therapies have been exhausted. Injections can be very helpful, as they reduce inflammation and remove adhesions in the joint that might be causing problems.