Information for Healthcare Providers

Understanding TMJ and Craniofacial Pain

Chronic head, neck, and facial pain affects roughly 1 in 4 Americans. Many of these patients cycle through a long, frustrating, and expensive journey across multiple providers seeking relief—often without lasting success. Primary care providers are often the first point of contact for these individuals, and it’s critical to understand the role that temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) may play.

Women are disproportionately affected, but men, children, and adolescents are not immune. Many cases remain undiagnosed or misattributed to unrelated causes like sinus issues, migraines, or ear disorders.

The Scope of the Problem

Pain is a major public health concern, costing billions annually in lost productivity and medication expenditures. Head and facial pain make up a significant portion of this burden. Many of these cases are directly related to TMD or broader craniomandibular disorders, which affect the function and alignment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), jaw muscles, and surrounding structures.

These disorders can also cause:

  • Ear pain or fullness (with no otologic findings)

  • Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus)

  • Dizziness and balance issues

  • Clicking or popping of the jaw

  • Locking of the jaw

  • Neck and shoulder tension

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Chronic headaches and migraines

Etiology and Pathophysiology

Craniomandibular disorders can result from:

  • Internal joint derangements (e.g., disc displacements)

  • Myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome

  • Improper occlusion and bite misalignment

  • Postural imbalances

  • Direct or indirect trauma (e.g., whiplash)

  • Stress-related bruxism and clenching

  • Developmental jaw discrepancies

  • Connective tissue disorders or arthritis

Intracapsular disorders involve changes within the joint itself, such as anterior disc displacement. These are frequently characterized by joint sounds (clicking or popping), pain, and restricted range of motion. Left untreated, these can progress to chronic locking and degenerative joint changes.

Extracapsular disorders arise from functional disturbances in the muscle system or bite-related discrepancies. When occlusion is not in harmony with the jaw’s physiological rest position, compensatory muscle activity leads to overuse, inflammation, and pain. Patients may not present with joint sounds but often report muscle soreness, tension headaches, and difficulty chewing.

Diagnosing Craniomandibular Disorders

Diagnosis requires a multidisciplinary, systems-based approach that includes:

  • Comprehensive history and symptom review

  • Physical exam of the jaw, cervical spine, and cranial nerves

  • Joint Vibration Analysis (JVA)

  • Advanced imaging (e.g., spiral tomography, CBCT, MRI)

  • Occlusal analysis and postural assessment

Our practice uses cutting-edge technologies to identify early-stage dysfunction and quantify objective changes in jaw movement and alignment—tools not commonly available in general medical settings.

When to Refer

Refer your patient to a dentist trained in TMD and orofacial pain management when:

  • Symptoms are chronic, unexplained, and interfere with daily function

  • Imaging or ENT findings do not explain ear, jaw, or facial complaints

  • Standard medical therapies have been ineffective

  • The patient experiences jaw locking, clicking, or pain with chewing

  • There is a history of trauma (e.g., whiplash, bruxism) and emerging dysfunction

Conservative Treatment Approaches

The vast majority of TMD and craniomandibular disorders can be managed non-surgically through conservative interventions such as:

  • Custom-fabricated intraoral orthotics (splints)

  • Neuromuscular rebalancing

  • Physical therapy focused on cervical and masticatory muscles

  • Trigger point therapy and spray-and-stretch techniques

  • Postural correction

  • Behavioral therapy or stress management

  • Nutritional support

  • Collaboration with chiropractic, ENT, sleep medicine, and pain specialists

In more complex cases, adjunctive treatment may include orthodontics, dental reconstruction, laser therapy, or guided airway therapy.

Our Role in Collaborative Care

At Radical Wellness, our dental and airway team provides a comprehensive, integrative approach to treating head, neck, and facial pain. We work closely with referring providers to develop personalized care plans rooted in functional diagnostics and targeted intervention. Our patients benefit from a collaborative model that prioritizes conservative, evidence-informed care to restore harmony between the teeth, muscles, joints, and airway.

Refer With Confidence

If your patient presents with unexplained orofacial pain, chronic headaches, or symptoms suggestive of TMD—and standard evaluations have not uncovered the cause—consider a consultation with our team. We welcome collaboration and are happy to provide documentation, co-management updates, and interdisciplinary support.

Serving children and adults with craniofacial pain and airway concerns in Memphis and Franklin, TN.

Let us help you help your patients find lasting relief.

Dr. Paige Prather, DDS

Nichole Parker, RDA, CDA, Certified Myobrace® Educator

Lunch and Learn for You and Your Team

Interested in learning more about Myobrace and Airway-focused care?

Nichole Parker, Certified Myobrace® Educator with Radical Wellness – Memphis, would love to visit your office and host a complimentary Lunch & Learn for you and your team.

She’ll bring lunch and share how the Myobrace System can address the root causes of crowded teeth, mouth breathing, snoring, and poor facial growth—often simplifying and shortening future orthodontic treatments. 

During this session, we’ll cover:

  • How habits like mouth breathing and incorrect swallowing affect jaw and facial development

  • The link between airway health, sleep quality, and overall wellness in children

  • How Myobrace improves nasal breathing, oral posture, and natural growth patterns

  • Key signs to look for when a child may benefit from early intervention

My goal is to collaborate with providers like you—dentists, pediatricians, ENTs, speech therapists, myofunctional therapists, chiropractors, and more—to help children thrive during critical growth years.

If this sounds valuable for your team, please CONTACT US with a few dates that work for you.