If your jaw clicks, aches, or locks, or you wake up with headaches you can't explain, your jaw joint may be trying to tell you something. These are classic signs of a TMJ disorder, and they rarely get better on their own.
At Kwon & Jabbour Dental in Walnut Creek, Dr. Julie Kwon and Dr. Hani Jabbour focus on finding the real cause of your jaw pain, not just quieting the symptoms. Most patients find lasting relief without surgery, using custom oral appliances, careful bite therapy, and treatment for the airway and sleep issues that often hide behind TMJ pain.
TMJ care is a special focus of our practice. In fact, other dentists refer their TMJ patients to us when jaw problems go beyond routine care.
Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ for short) are the two hinge joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull, right in front of your ears. When those joints, the muscles around them, or the way your teeth fit together get out of balance, the result is a TMJ disorder, also called TMD. That imbalance can cause pain and strange sounds in the joint itself, but it can also send pain into your head, ears, neck, and teeth. If you'd like the full story on what TMD is, what it feels like, and why it happens, read our in-depth guide to what TMD is and what causes it.
TMJ disorders wear many disguises. Many of our patients spent years treating headaches or ear pain before anyone looked at their jaw. See if any of these sound familiar:
One or two of these now and then may not mean much. Several together, week after week, is a strong sign your jaw joints and bite deserve a closer look.
Many people start with their doctor for jaw pain, and that's understandable. But the TMJ sits at the meeting point of three things dentists know best: your teeth, your bite, and your jaw joints and muscles.
The way your teeth come together (your bite) directly affects how your jaw joints load and move. A bite that is off, worn-down teeth, or a clenching and grinding habit can strain the joint and its muscles day and night. A dentist trained in TMJ treatment can see and measure those forces, then change them in a controlled, comfortable way. That is the heart of our work: we look at the whole system, including the way you breathe when you sleep.
Guessing is not a treatment plan. Before we recommend anything, we take the time to understand what is going on with your jaw.
We listen to your story first: when the pain started, what makes it worse, how you sleep, and what you've already tried. Then we examine your jaw joints, facial and neck muscles, and range of motion, checking for tenderness, sounds, and restricted movement.
We study how your teeth come together and where pressure lands when you chew. Worn spots, chipped edges, and uneven contacts leave clues about how your jaw has been coping.
When the exam calls for it, imaging lets us see the joint and the surrounding structures so we can rule out other causes and plan treatment with confidence.
By the end of this process, you'll understand what is causing your symptoms in plain English, and you'll have a clear plan to fix it.
Every TMJ case is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all fix. These are the conservative treatments we use most, alone or in combination.
A TMJ splint is a precisely fitted appliance, usually worn at night, that positions your jaw so the joints and muscles can relax and heal, while protecting your teeth from grinding. It is very different from a soft store-bought guard, which can actually make some TMJ problems worse.
If uneven tooth contact is straining your joints, small and careful adjustments to how your teeth meet can take pressure off the joint and calm the surrounding muscles.
Years of grinding can leave teeth short, flat, and unable to support a healthy bite. Rebuilding those teeth with restorative dentistry, including crowns and bonded restorations, can restore proper jaw position and protect your smile going forward.
For many patients, nighttime clenching is the body's response to a breathing problem during sleep. When that is part of the picture, we address it with oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea and snoring so your jaw finally gets a real night of rest.
This connection surprises many patients, but we see it in our office all the time: TMJ disorders and sleep-disordered breathing often travel together.
Here's the simple version. When your airway narrows during sleep, whether from sleep apnea, a deviated septum, chronic mouth breathing, or a naturally small airway, your body fights to keep air moving. One common response is to tense the jaw and grind the teeth all night long. Your jaw joints and muscles never get to rest, and you wake up with soreness, headaches, and fatigue.
That is also why a deviated septum and TMJ symptoms sometimes show up in the same person: the septum restricts nasal breathing, the body compensates during sleep, and the jaw pays the price.
Treating the jaw without asking about sleep can mean treating only half the problem. Because we provide both TMJ treatment and sleep apnea care under one roof, we screen for both, coordinate with your physician when a sleep study is needed, and design an appliance plan that helps your jaw and your breathing together.
TMJ treatment is a focused area of our practice, and dentists throughout Walnut Creek and the surrounding communities send us their patients with complex jaw pain, bite problems, and grinding damage.
If you are a dental office looking to refer a patient, simply complete our TMJ patient referral form and our team will take great care of your patient and keep you informed. If you are a patient whose dentist suggested seeing someone with TMJ experience, we would be honored to help.
TMJ disorders tend to build over time rather than fade away. Untreated, the strain can lead to:
The encouraging news: the earlier a TMJ problem is treated, the simpler treatment tends to be, and most patients get relief with conservative, reversible steps.
Coverage varies quite a bit between plans, and some TMJ services fall under dental benefits while others may involve medical benefits. Our team reviews your plan with you before treatment begins and helps you maximize your benefits. We also offer 0% financing options through CareCredit so cost doesn't stand between you and relief.
You don't have to keep living with jaw pain, morning headaches, or a clicking jaw. Dr. Kwon and Dr. Jabbour will find the cause, explain it clearly, and build a conservative plan to get you comfortable again.
We proudly serve Walnut Creek and nearby communities including Concord, Pleasant Hill, Lafayette, Alamo, and Danville. You'll find us at 108 La Casa Via, Suite 102, near John Muir Medical Center, with appointments Monday through Thursday.
Call (925) 930-8465 or request an appointment online to get started.
Kwon & Jabbour Dental, 108 La Casa Via, Suite 102, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
