Why do I have jaw pain on the left side of my jaw?

Right jaw click, left side pain, what is best course of action? Please?

• Last year I started getting clicks on my right jaw only when I open it fully. For many months it was just clicks, no pain, no nothing. Lately I've been getting this pain above my left year (the opposite jaw, no clicks). The pain has been shooting sometimes to the left temple, or is simply on the upper left side of my head, it's different every time. It is rarely constant, it's rather random. I went to my regular doctors, no help. (I did antibiotics and steroids so it's not an infection.) I went to my dentist and his specialist, and we did a panoramic and it's not wisdom teeth. The specialist said it's a misaligned jaw and that I need a night guard. What's a night guard? Should I go for it? Details: I chewed gum for years, but not any more. I also slept on my side for years, but now I do try to sleep on my back for posture purposes. Please help me with key suggestions. I lost my health insurance and really need qualified advice. Thank you.

• Answer:

  You have a TMJ disorder and the "specialist" you went to does not know how to treat TMJ. He and many dentist who do not understand TMJ disorders think erroneously that grinding is the cause of your problems and the cause of TMJ (Not!!). So he prescribes a nightguard which is an appliance that is worn while asleep to ease the effects of teeth grinding while asleep. Grinding will aggravate an existing TMJ problem but very rarely be the cause if it. The clicking in your jaws is due to a part of the jaw joint called the articular disk being forced out of joint when your teeth are together and popping back into place when you open. This is due to an internal derangement and the most common causes are deep overbites, Class II jaws (retruded chins), a history of head trauma, and having premolars pulled when braces were done, especially in females. What you need is a specially designed splint designed to keep your teeth apart and the mandible forward so that the articular disk does not dislocate. This appliance must be worn 24/7. Unless this nightguard your specialist is talking about is what I just described, do NOT go for it because it will probably not do you any good. The type of treatment you described by the specialist sounds like a shotgun approach where an appliance is made for you to wear and his fingers are crossed hoping that it will help. That is not the way to treat TMJ disorders. When you have a TMJ disorder the worse thing you can do is chew gum. Avoid all foods that m ake you chew a lot like tough meats, salads, and hard and sticky foods. The less you jaw has to work the better you will feel. You need to find a dentist who knows how to treat TMJ disorders (not all do) but avoid oral surgeons and traditional orthodontists, trust me. Check this site to find someone near you who can help - www.iaortho.org.