TMJ

TMJ Care

If your jaw clicks or hurts, do not leave it unchecked. We diagnose the condition of the jaw joint and guide you in the direction that fits the cause.

The short answer

If my jaw clicks, does it need treatment?

If it only clicks, with no pain or limited opening, treatment is usually not needed, and managing habits and monitoring are enough. If clicking comes with pain, if the mouth opens only three finger-widths (about 40 mm) or less, or if the mouth suddenly will not open, we treat it as a temporomandibular disorder and evaluate the cause. Most cases are managed without surgery, with self-care, an occlusal splint and physical therapy.

A temporomandibular disorder is far more often "a build-up of strain on the joint and muscles" than "a broken joint." So half of treatment is finding and changing the habits that create the strain, and Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon spends time explaining this.

Muscle-related (most common)

The chewing muscles are tired and painful from clenching, grinding and stress. The jaw feels stiff in the morning and the temples ache; it responds well to habit control and an occlusal splint.

Joint-related (disc · joint)

The disc inside the joint is displaced, causing clicking or catching and reduced opening. Clicking without pain is monitored; catching or limited opening is treated.

Combined · chronic

Muscle and joint problems overlap, or symptoms have lasted 3 months or more. We manage step by step, looking at sleep, stress and posture as well.

How does TMJ care proceed?

Taking your history. We ask since when, where and in which movements it hurts, the kind of sound, morning stiffness, headaches, habits such as grinding, clenching and resting your chin on your hand, and your sleep and stress. Most of the type is narrowed down at this stage.
Examination. We measure how far the mouth opens (mm), the path of the jaw when opening and joint sounds, and press on the joint and chewing muscles (masseter, temporalis) to find the painful spots. Following the international diagnostic criteria (DC/TMD), it is classified as muscle-related, joint-related or combined.[1] We also look for tooth wear, marks on the inside of the cheeks and signs of grinding (Korean).
Imaging. A panoramic X-ray shows changes in the shape of the joint bone, and if needed 3D CT shows changes in the joint surface. The disc itself is not visible on CT, so when MRI is needed we refer you.
Explaining the cause and plan. We explain which type it is, why it developed and what needs to change, and make a step-by-step plan: self-care → appliance → physical therapy and medication. Most cases are managed without surgery.
Self-care and habit correction. We show you how to part your teeth if they touch during the day, avoid hard foods and gum, cut down on resting your chin on your hand and chewing on one side, and use warm compresses and jaw stretches. Many people improve with this alone.
Occlusal splint. If you grind or clench, or self-care is not enough, a custom occlusal stabilization splint (Korean) worn while sleeping is made. It reduces strain on the muscles and joint and prevents tooth wear.[2][3] It is adjusted every 2–4 weeks after you start wearing it.
Physical therapy · medication, re-evaluation. If pain is severe, short-term anti-inflammatory painkillers and muscle relaxants are combined with physical therapy. After 4–8 weeks, opening and pain are measured again to adjust the plan, and if there is no response, a joint injection (Korean) or referral to a specialist hospital is considered.

What types of temporomandibular disorder are there, and how does treatment differ by type?

Type	Features	Treatment usually done	Period
Muscle pain (myofascial pain)	Chewing muscles hurt when pressed, morning stiffness, headaches	Self-care + occlusal splint + warm compresses	4–8 weeks
Disc displacement (with reduction)	A "click" when opening, no or mild pain	Monitoring + habit correction; a splint if catching develops	Monitoring
Disc displacement (without reduction)	Mouth suddenly will not open (35 mm or less), deviates to one side when opening	Opening exercises + splint + physical therapy; referral if needed	Weeks to months
Arthritis · degenerative change	Joint pain when chewing, grating sound, bone changes on imaging	Splint + medication + reducing load; injection considered	Months
Combined · chronic (3+ months)	Overlapping types, linked to sleep and stress	Step-by-step integrated management	Varies widely

* A simplified version of the DC/TMD classification for patients; the actual diagnosis and plan are decided individually after examination.[1][4]

Monitoring, physical therapy and splint therapy: what is the difference?

Item	Monitoring · self-care	Physical therapy · medication	Occlusal splint
Mainly for	Mild symptoms that started recently	When muscle pain or inflammation is clear	With grinding or clenching; ongoing sounds or pain
Method	Posture and habit correction, rest, warm compresses	Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory painkillers, muscle relaxants	Wearing a custom occlusal splint
Period	Several weeks of monitoring	About 4–8 weeks	Months, with regular adjustment
Health insurance	Consultation and tests covered	Physical therapy and medication covered	Covered when conditions are met

* A general comparison; an accurate diagnosis and costs are given individually at the consultation. — As of September 2026

What can I do at home?

Parting the teeth — It is normal for the teeth to touch only while eating. If your upper and lower teeth touch during the day, part them slightly and rest your tongue lightly on the roof of your mouth. Sticking a "teeth apart" note on your monitor or phone also helps.
Food — For a while, avoid hard and chewy foods (dried squid, nuts, ice), gum, and foods that require opening wide, and chew on both sides alternately.
Habits — Cut down on resting your chin on your hand, sleeping face down, chewing on only one side and yawning with your mouth wide open. Support your jaw with your hand when you yawn.
Compresses · stretching — If the muscles feel stiff, apply a warm towel for 10–15 minutes, and slowly open and close your mouth within a pain-free range.
Sleep · stress — Lack of sleep and tension increase clenching. Cut down on caffeine and take time to relax your jaw muscles before falling asleep.

Costs and health insurance. Consultation, X-rays, physical therapy and prescriptions are covered by Korean national health insurance. Occlusal splints are covered when conditions such as a diagnosis of temporomandibular disorder are met, and joint injections and Botox vary by item. We explain item by item at the consultation.

When a different approach comes first

· When there is only clicking with no pain or limited opening — it often does not need treatment. We do not recommend treatment aimed at eliminating the sound.
· If the cause is a bite thrown off balance by a high restoration or missing teeth — adjusting the prosthesis or restoring the gap comes first.
· When the pain comes from the ear, teeth or sinuses — dental examination and an ENT evaluation may come first.
· When the jaw will not close after an injury, or the bite suddenly changes — a fracture is possible, so imaging comes first.
· When severe limited opening and pain do not respond to treatment — we refer you to a specialist hospital for oral medicine or oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Nothing hidden

Limits and side effects of TMJ treatment

The goal of treatment is "control," not "cure". Temporomandibular disorders often go back and forth between better and worse. The sound may not disappear completely, and it recurs if stress or grinding gets worse. Treatment aims to reduce pain and restore function so it does not interfere with daily life.

Initial discomfort with the splint. When you first wear an occlusal splint, saliva increases, it feels foreign, and your bite may feel unfamiliar in the morning. Most people adjust within 1–2 weeks. Using it for a long time without adjustment can change the bite, so regular adjustment is needed.

Medication side effects. Anti-inflammatory painkillers can cause stomach upset and muscle relaxants can cause drowsiness, so they are used only briefly. Please tell us about your medications and medical conditions.

Limits of injections and Botox. Joint injections and Botox in the chewing muscles are supporting measures to reduce pain; they do not remove the cause. Repeated procedures have side effects such as muscle atrophy, so habit and splint treatment come first, and these are considered only when needed.

Improvement takes time. Muscle-related cases can take weeks and joint-related cases months. In the literature, occlusal splints are effective in reducing short-term pain, while long-term effects vary between individuals[2][3], so habit management needs to go along with them.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Q1 My jaw only clicks and does not hurt. Does it still need treatment?

If there is no pain, we usually monitor it. However, if the sound gets louder, or comes with a catching feeling or difficulty opening, it is a good idea to have it diagnosed.

Q2 How wide should my mouth open?

For adults, the gap between the upper and lower front teeth is usually about 40 mm or more (three finger-widths). If it is limited to 35 mm or less or suddenly opens less, it may be a joint disc problem and needs checking.

Q3 How long does treatment take?

The first visit takes about 20–30 minutes, and muscle-related cases often improve with 4–8 weeks of self-care, physical therapy and splint therapy. Joint-related or chronic cases can take months; we explain after diagnosis.

Q4 Is it related to grinding?

Grinding and clenching place continuous strain on the jaw joint and chewing muscles and are the most common factors that cause or worsen symptoms. In that case, an occlusal splint and habit management are combined.

Q5 How does an occlusal splint work?

It is a thin custom appliance worn between the upper and lower teeth while sleeping that spreads the clenching force and lets the muscles and joint rest. It also prevents tooth wear. A few adjustments are needed after it is made.

Q6 Do I have to keep wearing the splint?

Usually you start by wearing it while sleeping, and it is adjusted as symptoms change. Once you improve, you wear it less often; if grinding continues, some people keep using it to protect their teeth.

Q7 Do you use Botox for the jaw joint?

Yes, as a supporting measure when the chewing muscles are very tense. However, managing the underlying cause (habits, splint) comes first, and repeated procedures have side effects, so whether to use it depends on the diagnosis and is explained at the consultation.

Q8 Does health insurance cover TMJ treatment?

Consultation, X-rays, physical therapy and prescriptions are covered items, and occlusal splints are covered depending on conditions. We check whether you qualify at the consultation.

Q9 What should I do if my mouth suddenly will not open?

Do not force it open; after a warm compress, move it slowly within a pain-free range, and see us as soon as possible. When the disc is caught, the earlier it is addressed, the faster the recovery.

Q10 Can headaches also come from the jaw joint?

Headaches around the temples and severe morning headaches sometimes come from tension in the chewing muscles. If a neurological examination shows nothing abnormal and the jaw muscles hurt when pressed, we also look at temporomandibular disorder.

Q11 I stopped treatment partway at another clinic. Can you continue it?

Yes. We check the state of the previous treatment carefully and then continue. We assess your current condition with a detailed diagnosis and draw up a new plan for the remaining treatment.

Symptom guides and further reading

References

Schiffman E, Ohrbach R, Truelove E, et al. Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) for Clinical and Research Applications. J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2014;28(1):6-27. — International diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders; clinical diagnostic protocols for myalgia, arthralgia, disc displacement and degenerative joint disease.
Al-Ani MZ, Davies SJ, Gray RJ, Sloan P, Glenny AM. Stabilisation splint therapy for temporomandibular pain dysfunction syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD002778. — Cochrane review: stabilization splints may help reduce pain, but evidence of superiority over other conservative treatments is limited.
Kuzmanovic Pficer J, Dodic S, Lazic V, Trajkovic G, Milic N, Milicic B. Occlusal stabilization splint for patients with temporomandibular disorders: Meta-analysis of short and long term effects. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0171296. — Meta-analysis: occlusal stabilization splints are effective for short-term pain reduction and increased mouth opening; long-term differences from controls narrow.
Manfredini D, Guarda-Nardini L, Winocur E, Piccotti F, Ahlberg J, Lobbezoo F. Research diagnostic criteria for temporomandibular disorders: a systematic review of axis I epidemiologic findings. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2011;112(4):453-462. — Among patients with temporomandibular disorders, muscle disorders are the most common diagnosis (about 45%), disc displacement about 41%.

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This page was written and reviewed by Director Jeong Jinwoo (board-certified prosthodontist and specialist in integrated dentistry; certified member of the Korean Academy of TMJ and Occlusion, 대한턱관절교합학회) of Joy Dental Clinic Bongcheon, based on standard dental knowledge and the literature above. It is intended as general information; individual treatment plans and costs are given after a detailed diagnosis and consultation.

Last updated: 2026-09-11