Disorders of TMJ,  single or both sided, can lead to pain associated with simple grimassing, chewing, yawning, rest, or other daily activities. Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) can be exhibited as aching around the ears, numbness, tingling, mouth pain, clicking, and/or joint locking. Diagnosis of TMD can be difficult; in addition to imaging, an occlusion (usually done at the dentist’s office) examination and oral examination must be performed.

Prior to any treatments, pain management specialists work closely with general dentists and dental specialists to exclude alternative dental diseases as the cause of pain. If the source of pain is found to be TMJ, a simple nerve block into the joint, under ultrasound guidance, can help with confirmation. At that junction, a wide variety of treatments can be utilized, including nerve injections, radiofrequency ablation, or stem cell/PRP injections.