Temperomandibular Jaw Pain Dysfunction
Causes
Multi factorial, life style, stress, trauma to the joints muscles or jaws. Unbalanced bites especially jaw displacements, muscle spasm.
Aggravating factors
Lifestyle e.g lack of sleep, disturbed sleep, cold environment, life’s stresses
Trauma, changes in the mouth e.g. new restorations, loss of teeth, high fillings, jaw displacements. Dietary factors e.g. drinks with stimulants, red meat, coffee, cafeen.
History & features
Pain in and around the jaw joints usually one sided can be both.
Intermittent though often worse in the morning ,
May be worse after eating or stretching the jaw open.
Not relieved by most analgesics
May present as clicking or crepitus of the joints.
Muscles may be tender and area around the joint may feel tender to touch and pressure.
Xray findings : usually none as problem is often in the muscles and soft tissues.
Management:
Recognition of condition and giving the patient a diagnosis and name of the problem.
Exclude other causes, eg dental disease, partially erupted molar teeth, ENT causes.
Reassurance & resting the muscles.
Local conservative treatments:
Control & reduce stress, Yoga, palates, relaxation, hypno therapy.
Change diet: cut out Coffee, stimulant drinks eg Cola, Red Bull, soft diet, less red meat.
Warm moist heat during acute phases
Jaw exercises, stand in front of a mirror and open and close the jaw moving the jaw on closing to the side giving the pain. Try and hold the lower jaw so that the upper and lower tooth centre lines are in line with each other.
Regularise sleep patterns
Try analgesics ( often non effective)
Interventions:
Acupuncture is reported to give pain relief.
Medications:
Oral & Maxillofacial surgeons may prescribe low dose Tryciclic anti depressants which have a muscle relaxant effect.
Surgery:
A last resort, Oral Surgeons may open the TM Joints but the risks are high especially of nerve damage and there is associated external facial scarring.
Oral / Dental
In many cases the arrangement of the teeth and bite is unbalanced and poor and may be associated with TMJ pain dysfunction. A direct cause and effect relation can not be drawn. However it is well recognised that an alteration in the bite patterns may either trigger TMJD or can relieve the symptoms.
Bite planes:
These are bite raising appliances normally constructed by Oral Surgeons and Dentists. They may be either a soft acrylic bite guard, a rigid plastic framework with a soft bite surface or a hard bite guard. The hard plastic bite guard may be trimmed to enable ideal functional jaw and tooth movements and such hard bite guards are called “ Michigen Splints”
It has been found that if patients have malocclusions especially where this is associated with par function and a jaw displacement, then treating the mal occlusion and removing the jaw displacement may give resolution of the TMJD. However given the multi factorial nature of the condition and many options, no guarantee of success can nor should be given for any approach.
How can Somnowell assist in the treatment of TMD:
Like the “Michigen” splints and bite guards described, an appliance that changes the patients biting and parfunctional habits my reduce and resolve the TMDJ problem. By holding the lower jaw forward during sleep, the patient is discouraged from clenching and tooth grinding. The appliance probably de programmes the patients neuro muscular system.
The Somnowell is longer lasting than any plastic bite guard and is considerably more comfortable, easier to maintain and durable.
As a by product of treating patients with Snoring and sleep apnoea, it is frequently reported by patients that in addition to resolving the primary condition, the jaw joint and grinding is controlled.
Somnowell Inventor - Visiting Professor Simon Ash FDS MSc MOrth BDS

Prof. Ash is the inventor of the highly successful SOMNOWELL Chrome device for snoring and sleep apnoea.
The Somnowell Chrome is made to exacting standards in the Somnowell laboratory under the supervision of Visiting Professor Simon Ash. Prof. Ash and his master technicians create each Somnowell Chrome device using their wealth of experience and expertise.
Prof. Ash works at the forefront of his profession. He is a Consultant and Specialist Orthodontist with over 30 years clinical experience, with a special interest in sleep related breathing disorders, TMJD, and bruxism. He currently works in Harley Street London and two private hospitals in London as part of a multi-disciplinary team managing snoring and sleep apnoea, and is Visiting Professor of Orthodontics at the BPP University.
The Somnowell mandibular advancement appliance is also recommended by:
- Sleep Centres
- ENT Surgeons, Sleep Physicians, Respiratory, Physicians
- Orthodontists, Dentists
- General Medical Practitioners
Recommended By:
