The American Dental Association reported that >15% of
adults have chronic facial pain. Some common symptoms individuals
experience include pain in or around the ear, jaw tenderness,
clicking or popping noises when the mouth opens,
headaches, and neck pain. Because all of these symptoms do
not share a common cause, a dentist can help pinpoint the
source of the pain with an exam and dental x-rays. Oftentimes,
the pain is the result of a sinus problem, toothache, or earlystage
periodontal disease. Sometimes the pain is associated
with facial muscles, the jaw, or the temporomandibular joint. The
recommended treatments for facial pain may include stressreducing
exercises, muscle relaxants, or a mouth guard to prevent
teeth grinding.