Jaw Pain and TMJ, Greenwich: Aching, Clicking or Locking Jaw?

Q: Is a clicking jaw serious?

A click without pain is common and usually just needs watching. If it hurts, or your jaw catches or locks, it's worth having it looked at, since a splint and some changes in habit generally keep it from worsening.

Q: Will a night guard stop jaw pain?

If the pain comes from clenching and grinding at night, it usually eases within a few weeks as the muscles finally get some rest. When the joint itself is at fault, a hard occlusal splint, adjusted over a few appointments, does more than a soft guard.

Q: Can a dentist diagnose TMJ problems?

Yes. We diagnose temporomandibular disorder by listening to your symptoms and examining the joint, the muscles and your bite, taking an X-ray where it helps. If anything suggests you need a specialist, for example a jaw that keeps locking, we'll arrange a referral.

Q: Does stress cause jaw pain?

Often, yes. When you're stressed you clench more, particularly while asleep, and your jaw muscles bear the strain. Catching yourself clenching during the day, plus a night guard for the hours you're asleep, helps most.

Aches in the jaw joint and the surrounding muscles are common. Clenching or grinding is the usual cause, and good advice with a well-fitted splint eases most cases. We assess your bite, the joint and the muscles, and look for any other cause.Most often caused by clenching or grinding, and usually eased by good advice and a well-fitted splint. We assess the joint, muscles and bite.

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Emergency appointments are £70 whether or not you're registered with us, and dental plan members pay nothing. Outside our hours, NHS 111.²

What to Do Now

Things you can do before your appointment.

Rest the Joint

For a few days, eat soft food in small pieces, skip chewing gum, and try not to yawn wide or bite into baguettes or apples.

Heat and Gentle Stretching

A few times a day, hold a warm flannel against the side of your face for ten minutes, then slowly open and close your mouth.

Notice the Clench

Your teeth only need to meet when you chew or swallow. Whenever you think of it, rest your lips together, teeth apart, and tongue just behind the upper front teeth.

Painkillers, If You Need Them

For a few days, take ordinary painkillers or anti-inflammatories, following the packet directions.

What We Can Do

Jaw pain usually comes from the muscles, and simple steps help most people. We look for the cause first.

A Proper Assessment

We examine the joint and chewing muscles, see how wide you can open, and check your bite and any wear. If the joint needs a closer look, we take an X-ray.

Night Guard

Made to fit you, a night guard (£135) eases the strain on your teeth and muscles if you clench or grind while asleep.

Hard Occlusal Splint

A rigid splint for ongoing pain, clicking or heavy wear, fine-tuned over several visits to let the jaw muscles relax (from £620).

Fixing the Bite

The joint can be overloaded by a high filling or crown, or by gaps where back teeth are missing. Adjusting the restoration or replacing the teeth often settles things.

Advice That Works

Clenching is fuelled by stress, posture, caffeine, chewing gum and nail biting. We'll talk through the ones relevant to you.

Referral When Needed

If the jaw keeps locking, or the pain doesn't improve, we refer you to a specialist jaw clinic, either directly or via your GP.

Call 999 or Go to A&E If

Your mouth is locked open and you can't close it

Your jaw hurts after a blow to the face, and your teeth no longer meet the way they used to

Jaw pain comes with chest pain, breathlessness or pain running down your arm, as this can signal a heart problem

Book an Appointment If

Most days your jaw aches or clicks, or it briefly locks

Mornings bring a stiff jaw, tight cheeks or a headache at the temples

Fillings keep breaking, or teeth look chipped, flatter or shorter than before

You have earache, or pain just in front of the ear, without an ear infection

The pain began after you had a new crown or filling

Fees

You pay a single fee for the emergency appointment, and any lasting treatment is quoted in writing first. Fees last reviewed October 2026.²

Dental examination	£30
Large X-ray	£75
Night guard	£135
Occlusal splint, hard	from £620
Emergency visit	£70

See every fee

Questions

What causes it, splints, and pain with another source.

What causes jaw pain?–

In most cases it's the jaw-closing muscles, worn out by clenching and grinding, typically at night and often linked with stress. Sometimes the joint is to blame instead: its disc can slip, which produces a click, or the joint can wear. A bite thrown out by a filling that sits too high, or by missing teeth, can set off either.

Is a clicking jaw serious?+

Will a night guard stop jaw pain?+

Can a dentist diagnose TMJ problems?+

Does stress cause jaw pain?+

Guides

Grinding and Jaw Guides

All general dentistry guides

General dentistry · 6 minute read

Filling, Onlay or Crown?

Jaw Aching or Clicking? Get It Checked

A dental examination finds the cause, and what will help, before anything is made for you. We're a few minutes' walk from North Greenwich station.

Call 020 8788 6688Book a same-day appointment

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