Symptoms of a jaw joint disorder

• There is noise or pain when you open or close your mouth.
• Your mouth does not open wide or your jaw feels stiff.
• Headaches or tight neck and shoulders sometimes come with it.

Having these symptoms does not always mean a jaw joint disorder; the exact cause has to be confirmed with a diagnosis.

How is it treated?

For treatment, we first consider conservative methods such as an occlusal splint, physical therapy and changes to habits.

• Occlusal splint – a device worn to reduce the load on the jaw and teeth.
• Physical therapy – treatment that relaxes the muscles around the jaw.
• Lifestyle changes – identifying and changing habits that put strain on the jaw.

Which method suits you depends on the cause and severity of your symptoms, and we explain it after the diagnosis.

Habits to check in daily life

• Do you clench or grind your teeth?
• Do you chew on only one side?
• Do you rest your chin on your hand or often bite your nails or lips?
• Do you often chew hard food or gum?

The relationship between habits and symptoms differs from person to person, so we check it together at your visit.

Please get seen if…

• Pain or noise continues when you open your mouth
• Your mouth will not open or your jaw feels as if it catches
• Headaches or tight neck and shoulders last a long time
• Your jaw hurts when chewing, making meals uncomfortable

Care at Gangbuk Baeksang Dental Clinic

We provide integrated care including jaw joint treatment, implants, prosthetics, root canal treatment and orthodontics. We look at teeth grinding and clenching habits, the condition of your teeth and their relationship to prostheses to find the cause. You can see our doctors' jaw-joint-related professional society memberships in the doctors' profiles on our homepage.

Cost and insurance

Cost and whether health insurance applies can vary with the treatment method, so we explain them after diagnosis and before treatment. You can also check non-covered items under “Non-covered fees” at the bottom of our homepage.