Noninvasive treatments often ease discomfort.

• Position: Jaw Pain - Brief article

Pain when opening and closing the mouth to chew or talk usually does not signal a serious problem, notes Kevin Reid, a dentist at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. The source of the problem may be the temporomandibular (TM) joint, which connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the bone at the side of the head (temporal bone) and allows the jaw to move up and down and side to side. Muscles that control the jaw also may play a role.

There are a number of misconceptions about temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, points out Reid. "A lot of people assume that, if you have any pain in your face or jaw, it's due to some sort of temporomandibular joint problem, when, in fact, it may be due to a muscle problem or a number of disorders affecting jaw movement."

No single test can help in diagnosing TM disorders. Diagnosis is based on medical history, a clinical exam, and imaging. The source of pain may include trauma to the jaw, arthritis...