Jaw pain is discomfort or pain felt on one or both sides of the jaw. It is one of the most common facial pains. This pain can be caused by a variety of reasons and can often negatively impact quality of life.
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorders: The jaw joint plays an important role in movements such as chewing and speaking. TMJ can be caused by problems in this joint and can lead to jaw pain. Jaw joint crunching, pain, and chewing are some of the symptoms of these disorders.
Dental Problems: Conditions such as tooth decay, gum disease or teeth clenching can cause jaw pain. These conditions affect the tissues around the teeth and can cause pain.
Sinusitis: Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. It can cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, facial pain and jaw pain.
Stress and Anxiety: Stress and anxiety can cause muscle tension in the body. This may lead to excessive tension of the jaw muscles and jaw pain.
Trauma or Injuries: Damage to the jaw bones as a result of an accident, blow or injury can cause jaw pain. In some cases, it may even be impossible to open your mouth.
Arthritis: Temporomandibular joint arthritis can cause inflammation and pain in the joint.
Muscle Strain: Excessive strain during chewing, speaking, or other jaw movements can cause pain in the muscles that control the jaw. Muscle strain can usually be treated with muscle relaxants.
Trigeminal Neuralgia: The trigeminal nerve carries the sensation of the facial area to the brain. Pain may occur as a result of blood vessels putting pressure on this nerve. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease can also cause this condition. Jaw pain seen in trigeminal neuralgia is usually unilateral. This pain, which is felt mostly as upper jaw pain, is often described by patients as like a stabbing or electric shock. Jaw pain caused by trigeminal neuralgia can be so severe that it makes eating and drinking impossible.
Cluster Headache: Cluster headache is a type of pain that begins suddenly or occurs in a specific pattern. This pain can be severe enough to wake the person up at night. Cluster headache can cause pain in the jaw as well as in the eye and temple area.
Osteomyelitis: Infections seen in the bone are called osteomyelitis. Anaerobic osteomyelitis, a subgroup of osteomyelitis, can affect the jawbone. If the bacterial infections in the jawbone are left untreated, permanent damage to the bone may occur.
Tumors and Cysts: Tumors and cysts may occur in the jawbone, soft tissues of the mouth and face. These structures, called odontogenic, are generally not malignant. However, these structures can grow rapidly and affect dental health. Therefore, odontogenic tumors and cysts may need to be removed surgically.
In order to answer this question, the condition causing the pain must be determined and treatment planning must be made depending on that condition. The most effective way to determine which of the dozens of jaw pain treatment options will be suitable for you is to find the cause of jaw pain. The most common jaw pain treatments are as follows:
Jaw pain treatment is applied to the problem causing the pain. If the pain is caused by an infection, antibiotic or antiviral drug treatment can be applied after the doctor's prescription.
In case of trauma or any structural disorder, surgical treatment can be applied. People who have problems such as teeth grinding or teeth clenching during sleep may be recommended to use night plates or muscle relaxant drug treatments.
Topical ointments containing capsaicin can be used to treat pain caused by nervous disorders, if the doctor deems it necessary. In case of swelling or inflammation in the chin, creams containing steroids can be prescribed by the doctor.
Painkillers help prevent jaw pain in people with migraine and tension-type headaches. However, if the pain is caused by tooth or gum diseases, necessary attention should be paid to oral and dental care and dental treatments for the disease should be performed before it is too late.
In cases where there is no physiological problem causing jaw pain, psychological factors are also taken into consideration. An evaluation is also made from this perspective. In case of psychological disorders, some antidepressant medication and cognitive therapy methods can be applied by a specialist psychiatrist.
Jaw pain can be caused by a variety of reasons and can negatively impact quality of life. Treatment options may vary depending on the specific underlying cause of jaw pain. In addition to all these treatments, a different personalized treatment can also be applied.
Teeth clenching or grinding can be a cause of jaw pain. In this case, a night plate or other oral appliance can be used with dentist advice. Dental health problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease, can cause jaw pain. In this case, appropriate dental treatments can be applied.
Dentaliva is with you in the treatment of jaw pain. Jaw pain can be caused by a variety of reasons, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, teeth clenching, malocclusion, and stress. In our clinic, by using detailed examination and advanced imaging techniques, we determine the source of the pain and create personalized treatment plans for you. Our treatment methods include physical therapy, oral splints, medication and surgical interventions when necessary. As Dentaliva, we offer the most effective and newest treatment options to relieve your jaw pain and improve your quality of life. You can trust us for a healthy and pain-free life.