Temporomandibular Joint Pain
What is CMD? Do you wake up in the morning with pain in the jaw area? Do you have problems opening your mouth and do you have pain in the jaw joint when chewing? Does your jaw lock from time to time? Do you clench or grind your teeth? A great many people suffer from pain and disorders in the area of the chewing, head and neck muscles as well as the temporomandibular joints. This so-called craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD) has a wide range of symptoms and can be treated individually using a variety of methods.
Symptoms of CMD (Craniomandibular Dysfunction)
- Pain in the area of the jaw joints (mandibular angle radiating into the lower jaw, temple, possibly also headaches)
- Pain in the area of the masticatory muscles (cheeks, temples), especially when chewing
- Limited opening of the mouth: the jaw blocks when opening and/or closing the mouth, noises when opening and closing the mouth (cracking, rubbing)
- Limited jaw mobility
- ‘Disengagement’ of the joints
- Disturbances of the bite
- Headaches
- Less common: earaches or tinnitus
Duration of the treatment
60–90 Minutes
Fit for everyday life
After one week
Follow-up treatment
Suture removal and splint therapy
Clinic stay
Outpatient
The most frequently asked questions
What is TMD (temporomandibular disorder)?
TMD stands for Temporomandibular Dysfunction and refers to disorders and pain in the chewing, head, and neck muscles, as well as the temporomandibular joints. It manifests through symptoms such as temporomandibular joint pain, limited mouth opening, and jaw noises.
What symptoms can indicate TMD (temporomandibular disorder)?
Typical symptoms include:
- Pain in the temporomandibular joint and chewing muscles
- Limitations in mouth opening or jaw movement
- Jaw sounds such as clicking or grinding
- Headaches, occasionally also ear pain or tinnitus
What are the most common causes of temporomandibular joint pain?
Common causes include tension in the facial, chewing, and head muscles, dental misalignments, faulty movements in the temporomandibular joint, or stress factors such as psychological stress and sleep disturbances.
How is TMD (temporomandibular disorder) diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made through a thorough examination, including imaging techniques and arthroscopy. The goal is to identify the exact cause of the symptoms.
What treatment options are available for TMD (temporomandibular disorder)?
The treatment is personalized and ranges from conservative methods such as physiotherapy, splint therapy, and medication support to minimally invasive measures like injections or joint space rinsing.
How quickly can one expect improvement?
Depending on the treatment method, initial improvements can be noticeable within a week. Consistent aftercare, such as the use of splints, supports the healing process.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction is a collective term for various pathologies and problems of the jaw muscles and joints:
- Overuse disorders that primarily affect the muscles and ligaments.
- Illnesses or degenerative phenomena that directly affect the jaw joint (joint head and joint socket…) (arthritis, arthrosis, chondromatosis…).
- Pathologies that affect the cartilaginous disc between the head and socket (e.g. disc dislocation or disc perforation).
- Growth disorders of the jaw joints, such as condylar elongation and hyperplasia, cause severe asymmetries and deformities of the lower jaw. A great deal of experience is required to correct these asymmetries.
- Ankylosis of the jaw joints: in this case, there is a fibrous or bony connection between the joint socket and the jaw head. Depending on the diagnosis, the competent team of specialists at the SailerClinic cures ankyloses using various methods, including the use of lyophilised cartilage strips, foils or even complete joint replacement (endoprosthetics).
- Temporomandibular joint disorders in systemic diseases such as polyarthritis, Bechterew’s disease, scleroderma, etc.
Due to the extensive experience of the specialists at the SailerClinic with complex jaw joint problems, CMD jaw treatment is already well established. In the case of systemic diseases, we can therefore always achieve an improvement in chewing and joint function by means of CMD treatment.
Tumours and tumour-like changes in the jaw joints:
- Chondromatosis: formation of multiple cartilaginous, sometimes free joint corpuscles that restrict the mobility of the joint and can be painful. These can be removed surgically.
- Exostoses: Bony outgrowths on the head, cause deformations and asymmetries of the mandible and dislocation of the head.
- Tumours and metastases: e.g. those from breast or prostate cancer, must always be considered during diagnosis. Surgical removal of the head is then necessary, with simultaneous reconstruction using artificial joints or lyophilised jaw parts.
Before-and-after pictures




Temporomandibular Joint Pain Therapy – CMD Therapy
The most important step in treating so-called craniomandibular complaints is a careful examination and diagnosis (examination, imaging techniques, arthroscopy) to determine exactly where the cause of the complaints lies. Depending on the cause, there are a variety of non-surgical and surgical treatment methods. The treatment plan must be individually adapted to the patient (life circumstances and ability to actively participate) and, of course, to the disorder itself.
Conservative treatment methods include physiotherapy, neuromuscular stimulation therapy, various biofeedback methods or even a drug adjunctive treatment. Often, a change in circumstances is a simple method to quickly bring about improvement. There are also various splints (so-called ‘crunches’) that can be a good treatment option.
Furthermore, there are the so-called minimally invasive methods such as injections or rinsing of the temporomandibular joint spaces, for example to slow down inflammatory processes and promote regeneration in the joint space. In addition, various medications and regenerative substances can be instilled directly into the joint and take effect there.
Jaw Pain: Causes at a Glance
Tension in the facial, chewing and head muscles is regularly the starting point of jaw pain. An incorrect movement in the joint itself is also possible. In dentistry, the most frequently observed risk factor for CMD is a misaligned tooth, which can result from tooth loss or an anomaly of the jaw. However, muscle tension caused by psychological stress of any kind, sleep disorders or depression is also possible.
Since the symptoms of CMD can be extremely painful, sufferers are often noticeably restricted in their daily lives. Timely diagnosis and targeted CMD treatment can provide relief and significantly improve your quality of life.
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