Clinical Articles
Articles on Orofacial Pain, TMJ, and Headache
Evidence-based perspectives on the diagnosis and management of orofacial pain conditions. Written by Dr. Sang H. Chung, DMD.
Why Does My Jaw Hurt on One Side?
Five causes of one-sided jaw pain, how each feels different, when it is an emergency, and what a specialist evaluation looks like.
TMJ Flare-Up: What It Feels Like and What to Do
What a TMJ flare-up is (inflammatory vs muscular), how long each cause lasts, safe self-care, and when a flare signals a subtype problem.
The Sleep Apnea, Jaw Pain, and Bruxism Connection
How obstructive sleep apnea drives nocturnal bruxism, damages the TMJ over time, and creates a self-reinforcing sleep-pain cycle that resists standard treatment approaches.
Central Sensitization: Why Your Pain Outlasts the Injury
When facial pain persists beyond tissue healing, central sensitization may be the mechanism. Understanding why painkillers alone fail and why multi-modal treatment is required.
When to See a TMJ Specialist Instead of Your Dentist
Five criteria that indicate referral to a board-qualified orofacial pain specialist is warranted — and what a specialist does differently from general dental providers.
The TMJ-Headache-Neck Pain Connection
The trigeminocervical nucleus convergence explains why jaw pain, headaches, and neck pain often occur together — and why treating only one component fails.
The Difference Between TMJ and TMD
TMJ is anatomy. TMD is pathology. Why this distinction matters for diagnosis, treatment selection, and outcomes — and how the right term leads to the right treatment.
Why a Normal MRI Does Not Rule Out TMJ
MRI shows soft tissue but misses muscular, neuropathic, and functional pathology. Understanding what imaging can and cannot detect in the TMJ complex.
Not Finding What You Need?
If you are experiencing chronic orofacial pain and have not received a definitive diagnosis, we can help.
No referral needed · Help filing with medical insurance · $650
Still researching? Browse Conditions →