Jaw Problems Can Cause Referred Pain

Your jaw muscles and joints are connected to many nearby areas — including the ears, face, and neck. When these muscles become tight or inflamed, the pain often “spreads” or radiates to other areas, leading to:

• Ear pain without infection

• Facial tightness or tenderness

• Neck stiffness or soreness

• Pain when chewing or talking

• General tooth pain, chewing pain or jaw aches

• Headaches or pressure near the temples

 

Because these symptoms don’t always feel like “jaw pain,” many patients go months or years without a clear answer.

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Is It Muscle Pain or Nerve Pain?

Understanding the source of your pain is key to treating it:

• Myofascial Pain – Trigger points or knots in overworked muscles can cause dull, aching, or pressure-like pain that spreads to the face, head, or neck.

• Neuropathic or Nerve Pain – Conditions like trigeminal neuralgia or nerve injury may cause burning, shooting, or electric shock-like pain in the face and teeth.

 

Our team has advanced training in both types of pain — and we’ll help determine which one is affecting you.

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Safe & Effective Treatment Options

At Colorado TMJ and Facial Pain, we specialize in identifying and treating these overlooked causes of chronic pain — without surgery.

We offer personalized, non-surgical care designed to reduce pain and restore comfort. Your treatment may include:​

• Trigger Point Injections
  For tight facial and neck muscles causing referred pain.

  • Specific cortico-nervous injections to calm overreactive nerve tracts that are stimulating unnecessary pain​

• Oral Appliances
  Custom-designed devices to reduce jaw strain and muscle overload

• Laser Therapy
  Diode light-based therapy to ease inflammation and promote healing of tissue causing pain

• Botox
  Targeted therapeutic relief for overactive muscles contributing to facial tension proven to work as a long-term solution

• Postural and Sleep Guidance

       Simple adjustments that support long-term relief

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