Dental Specialist Group

American Board-Certified Prosthodontist, Endodontist, and Oral Medicine Specialist

TMD/Facial Pain

Bucks Dental Health and Esthetics

HAI QING, DMD

Prosthodontist & Dental Implants Specialist located in Philadelphia Area, New Britain, PA

TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder, TMJ disorder) and Facial pain have multiple symptoms, including facial pain, difficulty of opening mouth, joint clicking, difficulty with chewing food, etc. TMD affects up to 15% of adults and significantly affects patients’ quality of life.

At Bucks Dental Health and Esthetics, multiple specialists work as a team to offer interdisciplinary treatment for TMD and facial pain.

Hai Qing, DMD, has extensive experience treating TMD from the point of occlusion, including bite adjustment, TMD emergency treatment, full-mouth occlusion rehabilitation, occlusal biting plate etc.

Chizobam Idahosa, DDS is a specialist in oral medicine. She has extensive experience treating TMD/facial pain using a medical model and a conservative approach from an oral medicine point of view.

Call the office in New Britain, Pennsylvania, or schedule an appointment online.

215-234-3780

TMD/Facial Pain Q & A

What are the Symptoms of TMD/facial pain?

Pain of your TMJ or facial area which can happen on one side or both sides
Aching pain in and around your ear, neck, or head
Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
Limited mouth opening or other movement
Clicking joint or grating sensation

What are the causes of TMD/facial pain?

The etiology of TMD/facial pain can be multifactorial from local TMJ issues and neurological issues, including but not limited to:

Disc misalignment

TMJ cartilage damaged by arthritis

TMJ damage due to injury

Biting issue (occlusion issue) due to missing teeth, occlusal interference, grinding or clenching teeth etc.

Poor posture such as forward head position

Psychosocial factors such as emotional stress, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders

Systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis

Neuromuscular disease, like fibromyalgia etc.

How should I take care of my TMD/facial pain?

Treatment of TMD/facial pain depends on the diagnosis or findings of intraoral and extraoral examination and patients’ medical history. Treatment includes non-invasive or conservative therapies which are usually used at first line treatment, including patient education, cognitive behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, antidepressant, and anxiolytic medications), physical therapy, and occlusal therapy. Surgical interventions are reserved after a trial of conservative therapy fails to improve the symptoms in patients with moderate to severe pain with significant effect on their quality of life.

The following image shows the occlusal device designed by Dr. Qing to successfully treat patient’s TMD due to disc derangement disorders.