Jaw Pain

Corpus Christi

Jaw pain can be caused by a lot of different things, but the most common causes are dental related. At the top of those dental-related causes is TMJ Disorder.

We tend to think of the jaw as a very simple open-and-close joint, but the reality is that the jaw can move on all three axis of movement (forward, backward, up, down, left, right). The two TMJ joints at each end of the jaw bone (or mandible) are complex systems of cartilage, nerves, tendons, blood vessels, and muscle. All this complexity means that the balance of the system, which equates to a balanced bite, is very delicate.

TMJ Disorder means that there is an imbalance in this fragile system that can cause intense and persistent jaw pain. How? Think of two people on a trampoline. If one is bouncing up and down, the other person will have to work hard to balance themselves because the trampoline is moving beneath their feet. Your jaw is straining to maintain its position due to imbalances elsewhere in your TMJ system. This strain causes jaw pain. If you’re experiencing jaw pain, you may also suffer from some of these other TMJ symptoms.

To find out if your jaw pain is TMJ-related, you’ll need to come in to Dr. Lowrance’s office for a TMJ analysis. He will analyze your bite with a K7 computer system to identify whether or not your bite is in its optimal position.

If you live in Corpus Christi and are suffering from jaw pain, contact Dr. Lowrance right away. He can set up a jaw pain consultation for you and get you started on a TMJ treatment regimen for a pain-free life.