Jaw Pain & TMJ

Clicking or popping usually points to the temporomandibular joint, the hinge connecting your jaw to your skull, not tracking smoothly. It often comes with jaw pain, headaches, earaches, or tightness in the neck and shoulders. Clicking on its own is common and not always a problem, but paired with pain or locking it is worth having examined.

There may be no permanent cure for TMD, but the symptoms can usually be managed well. We build a plan around your triggers using proven options such as a custom night guard, bite correction, anti-inflammatory therapy, and referrals for physical therapy. Surgery is reserved for cases where conservative care is not enough. The goal is comfort and normal jaw function day to day.

The cost depends on the type of appliance, the lab work involved, and whether other treatment is part of your plan. Some PPO plans contribute toward a custom night guard and some do not. We check your benefits and hand you a written estimate before anything is made. Call (310) 855-2434 and we will look up your coverage.

That varies, because TMD is a chronic condition rather than a one-visit fix. A custom night guard is usually ready within a couple of weeks, and many patients notice a difference in morning soreness not long after they start wearing it. Bite correction or orthodontic work takes longer. We check in as you go and adjust the plan.

Yes, headaches, migraines, ear pain, and ringing in the ears are common TMD symptoms, along with facial pain, dizziness, neck stiffness, and trouble chewing or swallowing. Because those overlap with other conditions, an exam is the only way to know what is driving them. Patients across West Hollywood and Los Angeles come to us after months of unexplained headaches.