Center of Excellence for TMJ

Causes of TMJ disorders can occur if:

• The disk erodes or moves out of its proper alignment.
• The joint's cartilage is damaged by arthritis.
• The joint is damaged by a blow or other impact.
• The muscles that stabilize the joint become fatigued from overwork, which can happen if you habitually clench or grind your teeth.
• Accidents – trauma to the head or neck caused by falls, sports injuries, car accidents, etc.
• Bad habits such as clenching or grinding of the teeth, poor posture, improper sleep habits
• Forward Head posture (i.e. when you jut your head forward when working on a computer for hours; or cradling the phone between your shoulder and ear; or reading a book)
• Misalignment of the upper and lower jaw
• Problems with the bite. When the Upper and Lower teeth do not fit properly.
• Poorly fitting dentures
• Missing or misaligned teeth

Over 10 million people in the USA suffer from TMJ or temporomandibular joint syndrome, a condition in which the temporomandibular joint does not function correctly, which usually generates pain of varying degrees.

The temporomandibular joint connects the temporal bone, which is the bone that forms the sides of the skull with the jawbone. The condition of TMJ produces pain in the muscles and joints of the jaw that frequently radiate to the ear, face, head, neck, and shoulder.

“TMJ” stands for TemporoMandibular Joint, and “TMD” stands for TemporoMandibular Dysfunction of the jaw joint. Sometimes TMJ disorders are abbreviated TMD.

There are two TMJs, one in front of each ear, connecting the lower jaw-bone (the mandible) to the skull (temporal bone). The joint allows the jaw to move up and down, side-to-side, and forward and backward, providing all the mobility necessary for biting, chewing and swallowing food, for speaking, and for making facial expressions. Between the top end of the jaw (condyle) and the socket in the skull is a disk of cartilage, which – like the discs in the neck and back – serve as shock absorbers, protecting the bones from hitting each other.

Sometimes TMJ can lead to problems that don't seem related to your jaw. Pain in the TMJ can interfere with everyday activities. Symptoms that can originate from dysfunction in your jaw joints include headaches, difficulty swallowing, stress, earaches, chronic ear-infections, and neck, shoulder, and back pain.

It is by far the most complex and most over-worked joint in the human body.

TMJ/TMD treatment is primarily focused at treating the relationships of the upper and lower teeth, and of the teeth to the TM joints and their supporting ligaments and associated muscles.

Primary goals of treatment:

• Relieve muscle spasm and pain
• Stabilize the bite with the use of neuromuscular oral appliance

Used in conjunction with the appliance, the following methods may also be used for treatment:

• Physical therapy
• Airway management
• Hot/cold packs
• Chiropractic
• Nutritional counseling
• Limitation of jaw movements (opening too widely, etc.)

Eye Pain and Eye Problems:

Bloodshot eyes
Bluring of vision
Eye pain above, below, and behind eye
Pressure behind eyes
Light sensitivity
Watering of the eyes

Head Pain, Headache Problems, Facial Pain:

Migraines
Forehead pain
Sinus & Cluster headaches
Headaches at the back of the head, with or without shooting pain

Teeth and Gum Problems:

Clenching during the day or at night
Grinding teeth at night (bruxism)
Tooth pain
Sensitive teeth
Loose or crowded teeth; some teeth not touching when you bite down.

Eyes/Ears/Throat Problems

Ringing or buzzing in the ears
Congestion in the ears
Dizziness

Jaw/Joints Problems

Clicking, Popping, or Grating sounds in jaw joints
Jaw shifts to one side when opening/closing
Jaws that “get stuck” or locked
Pain from opening the mouth too widely, i.e. yawning, chewing
Pain at rest or with opening/closing of jaw.

Recently, there has been a paradigm shift in the scientific understanding of the etiology and treatment of migraine headaches. While migraines differ from tension headaches in intensity and in related symptoms, they may be triggered by clenching the teeth, just like tension headaches. The evidence for this is as follows:

• Jaw clenching muscles in migraine sufferers usually are 70% larger in volume than in people without migraine.
• Jaw clenching muscles in those who suffer from migraines can generate much higher biting forces than the jaw muscles in those without migraines.
• Migraine suffers who experience their headaches upon waking show evidence of grinding teeth at night during sleep (bruxism).
• Both migraine suffers and those who experience tension headaches show tenderness to palpation (pressing and kneading with the fingers) in the muscles of mastication (the muscles in the face responsible for closing and grinding of the teeth) during and following their headaches while those without migraines do not.

The difference between tension headaches and migraines is as follows:

• Migraine sufferers experience so much pain and dizziness that they are often incapacitated and need to lie down, while tension headache sufferers can often control their pain with analgesics and continue to operate during their attacks.

Migraine sufferers exhibit one or more of the following symptoms during an attack:

Nausea due to dizziness

Sensitivity to light

Sensitivity to sound

Therefore, an apparent relationship between bruxing and clenching the teeth, and the migraine headache exits. The standard of care in the treatment of migraine headaches now includes some of the modalities used to treat TMJ/TMD, especially the use of orthotics.

• Do you have frequent headaches?
• Do your ears feel clogged or stuffy?
• Do you have pressure in your ears?
• Do you hear grating sounds when you chew?
• Do you clench your teeth during times of stress?
• Do you grind your teeth at night?
• Do you have pain in your jaws during and after chewing?
• Does it hurt to move your jaw from one side to the other?
• Do you hear noises when moving your jaw from one side to the other?
• Do you hear noises when opening or closing your mouth?
• Do you experience episodes of your jaw getting stuck with opening or closing?
• Have you had trauma to the jaw?
• Have you ever had whiplash injury?
• Do your face muscles feel sore or hurt?
• Do your teeth ache?
• Does eating chewy foods start your symptoms?
• Does your jaw shift to the left or right when you open wide?
• Are you able to eat a large sandwhich without any pain?
• Do you have to break foods into smaller sizes because of limited openings of the mouth?

TMJ disorder, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, refers to a range of conditions affecting the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. These joints are responsible for essential movements like chewing, speaking, and yawning. When the TMJ becomes misaligned, inflamed, or overworked, it can lead to chronic discomfort and a wide range of symptoms that can feel unrelenting without a clear source.

Common signs of TMJ disorder often include persistent jaw pain or tightness, popping or clicking sounds while chewing, limited mouth movement, facial soreness, and even pain that radiates to the neck and shoulders. 

Many patients also experience recurring headaches or migraines that haven’t responded to traditional medical care. These are often misdiagnosed until a TMJ evaluation is performed. At Suburban TMJ & Sleep Center in Naperville, IL, Dr. Patel and her team have helped thousands of people uncover the root cause of these types of silent suffering, restoring comfort without surgery.

TMJ pain doesn’t stem from a single cause. Rather, it’s a multifactorial condition influenced by structural, behavioral, and even genetic factors. Some people develop TMJ dysfunction due to a bad bite (malocclusion), injury to the jaw, or arthritis in the joint. In other cases, nightly teeth grinding (bruxism) or clenching caused by stress can exacerbate tension in the muscles around the jaw.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction can sometimes worsen from past dental work that alters the bite alignment or from orthodontic treatment that failed to stabilize the joint. Hormonal imbalances and hypermobility in the joints can also increase vulnerability, particularly in women. Understanding these underlying root causes is essential. This is why Dr. Patel at Suburban TMJ & Sleep Center provides a comprehensive evaluation to create a treatment plan designed around long-term relief, not just momentary symptom relief.

Many patients come to our practice after being told their only option is surgery. That’s simply not true. The vast majority of TMJ cases can be treated conservatively with advanced, non-invasive therapies that realign the jaw and reduce inflammation without going under the knife. Dr. Patel has successfully provided over 5,000 non-surgical treatments, making our center a dedicated alternative to general dentistry or surgical intervention.

One of the most promising options is regenerative therapy using PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin), a cutting-edge technique that uses the patient’s own blood-derived growth factors to reverse joint damage and promote healing from within.

Other non-invasive treatments may include custom oral appliances that stabilize the bite during sleep, therapeutic Botox to relax tense muscles, and neuromuscular rehabilitation. Each treatment is tailored to support both functional recovery and long-term health, with the added bonus of optional aesthetic services like microneedling or dermal fillers when desired.

A "locked jaw," clinically known as trismus or restricted mouth opening, can be both frightening and painful. It's often caused by internal damage to the TMJ, such as a displaced disc, prolonged muscle spasms, or acute inflammation. Timely intervention is critical to prevent long-term restrictions and restore normal jaw movement.

At Suburban TMJ & Sleep Center in Naperville, treatment for limited jaw opening typically starts with diagnostic imaging like a CBCT scan to pinpoint the source. Once identified, Dr. Patel may recommend guided regenerative therapies such as PRF injections to calm inflammation and heal joint tissue, combined with at-home stretching exercises and appliance therapy to improve functional range.

Patients often experience significant improvement without invasive surgery, with many regaining full motion within weeks. The key is recognizing that this condition is treatable. With the right expertise and technology, a locked jaw doesn’t have to become a permanent struggle.