Jaw Treatments

A clicking sound when opening the mouth, a feeling of pressure in the jaw, pain when chewing, or waking up in the morning with a blocked bite, complaints involving the jaw joint and the chewing muscles are widespread. Even so, they are often dismissed and only examined medically once quality of life has noticeably suffered. What initially appears to be a harmless jaw issue can radiate into the head and neck, where it causes tension, disturbs sleep and, over time, can even damage the teeth. A tailored treatment not only restores well-being but also protects the body from lasting damage.

Jaw Complaints

Jaw complaints rarely arise without a reason. Behind them often lies a complex interplay of muscles, joint and bite, along with contributing factors such as (above all) stress. Our specialists first investigate these underlying causes in order to initiate a precise, individualised therapy. A clear diagnostic indication is central to our approach: we do not treat the symptom, but the underlying issue, in order to achieve lasting improvement and recovery. In what follows, we present the main treatment options for typical jaw complaints. The SailerClinic specialises both in conservative methods – such as the custom-made occlusal splint or the targeted injection of botulinum toxin into the chewing muscles – and, depending on the findings, in minimally invasive and open procedures on the jaw joint.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can cause jaw complaints?

Jaw complaints usually result from the interplay of several factors. Typical triggers include nocturnal teeth grinding, stress-related muscle tension, bite misalignment, displacement of the articular disc, or degenerative changes in the jaw joint. Accidents, previous operations or inflammatory conditions can likewise produce symptoms. A careful investigation of the underlying causes is therefore essential to successful treatment.

When should I have jaw complaints checked by a specialist?

You should consult a specialist at the latest when you experience pain or persistent clicking in the jaw area, or when your mouth has only been opening with restriction for several weeks. Keep an eye on seemingly unrelated symptoms as well: recurring tension headaches or unexplained earache can indicate a functional disorder of the jaw. When in doubt, we recommend an early evaluation; the sooner an issue is identified, the more likely it can be treated conservatively, that is, without surgery.

What treatment options are available for jaw joint problems?

Depending on the findings, the spectrum of therapy ranges from conservative measures through to surgery. In most cases, treatment begins with a custom-made occlusal splint, which can be complemented by physiotherapy. If this does not bring about improvement, targeted botulinum toxin injections into the chewing muscles, a minimally invasive arthroscopy of the jaw joint, or an open surgical procedure may be considered. We discuss every available option with you and decide together on the optimal therapy.

How long does splint therapy last, and when does it start to work?

Splint therapy is typically carried out over several months. The first positive effects – usually a relaxation of the chewing muscles and a noticeable reduction in morning symptoms – are often felt after just a few weeks. The exact duration of wear is always tailored to your individual findings and therapeutic goal, and can be reviewed and adjusted during the course of treatment.

Can a botulinum toxin injection permanently stop teeth grinding?

Botulinum toxin reduces the activity of the chewing muscles and can thereby significantly relieve nocturnal teeth grinding and the symptoms associated with it. Because the effect lasts for around three to six months, the treatment can be repeated as needed. Although the therapy – particularly in combination with a splint and physiotherapy – often achieves very good results, it is not a permanent cure for bruxism.

When is jaw joint surgery really necessary?

Most jaw complaints do not require surgery. It is only considered once conservative measures and minimally invasive procedures fail to provide adequate improvement, or when there is a clear structural cause – for example, advanced disc displacement, pronounced osteoarthritis, or bony fusion within the joint. At SailerClinic, we review the indication for surgery very carefully and operate only when other forms of therapy offer no prospect of success.

Our Services for Your Well-Being

Complaints affecting the jaw joint and the chewing muscles – often grouped together under the medical term craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) – are among the most frequently underestimated musculoskeletal conditions. We recommend treatment in particular when your symptoms persist, get worse, or affect your day-to-day life.

Splint therapy for muscular jaw complaints

For muscular tension in the jaw area and nocturnal teeth grinding, splint therapy delivers good results in most cases. A custom-made occlusal splint of hard plastic is worn at night, which decouples the upper and lower rows of teeth from one another. This not only relaxes the chewing muscles and relieves the jaw joint, but also protects the enamel from being worn down by grinding.

Your splint is fabricated to fit you precisely and, where required, is adjusted over time to reflect changes in your musculature. In our experience, patients often wake up after just a few weeks with noticeably less pain and report a clear calming of the jaw joint. Splint therapy also forms the basis – where necessary – for further treatment steps and can, for example, be combined with physiotherapy.

Botulinum toxin injections into the chewing muscles

Pronounced teeth grinding – known medically as bruxism – or hypertrophy of the masseter muscle can be the result of marked overactivity of the chewing muscles. This can be normalised by a targeted injection of botulinum toxin (Botox), which substantially reduces tension in the muscle. The medication only temporarily inhibits the transmission of nerve signals to the treated muscle fibres, without significantly impairing chewing function.

Our specialists carry out the procedure on a straightforward outpatient basis, often in just a few minutes. The first positive effects are usually felt within a few days, while the full effect develops after two to three weeks and lasts for around three to six months.

Botulinum toxin injection comes with a welcome side effect: in patients with pronounced masseter hypertrophy, the angle of the lower jaw can take on a visibly softer contour over time. This aesthetic effect is never the primary aim of the treatment, however – simply a welcome by-product.

Jaw joint arthroscopy

If conservative measures do not produce the desired outcome, or if structural changes appear in the jaw joint, arthroscopy of the jaw joint can be the next therapeutic step. In this minimally invasive procedure, a miniature optical instrument and very fine instruments are introduced into the joint through two small skin incisions. This allows our specialists to reduce inflammatory changes and selectively restore joint function, without the need for an open approach. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia but can, as a rule, be carried out on an outpatient basis and is associated with a markedly shorter recovery time than open surgery.

Open jaw joint surgery

Where a serious finding is present – this includes, for example, advanced osteoarthritis, a pronounced and irreparable disc displacement, bony fusion of the joint (ankylosis), a tumour in the jaw joint area, or trauma-related damage – open surgery may become necessary. Open jaw joint surgery is among the most demanding procedures in the oral, maxillofacial and facial region. At the SailerClinic, it is therefore performed by specialists with many years of experience in this field, so that you are in the best of hands from the initial history-taking through to follow-up care.

Your expert team

Martin Lanzer
PD Dr. Dr. med. Dr. med. dent., eMBA

Specialist in oral, maxillofacial, and facial surgery, clinic director and CEO

Hermann F. Sailer
Prof. Dr. med., Dr. med. dent., Dr. h. c. mult., Dr. sc. h. c. mult.

Specialist in oral, maxillofacial, and facial surgery, founder of the clinic, senior director

Our specialists are here for you – get in touch.

Complaints in the jaw area rarely disappear on their own. Arrange a personal initial consultation at SailerClinic, and let us work together to get to the bottom of the causes of your symptoms, so that your well-being can be restored as soon as possible.

“Now 18 years later, I would like to thank you once again with a big thank you. Thank you! I have never had any more complaints in the past 18 years, simply brilliant....”

R. Friess, Arosa