Is Jaw Pain Related to Your Bite?

Understanding TMJ From a Whole-Health Perspective

If you’ve ever experienced ongoing jaw pain, clicking or popping when chewing, tension headaches, or even discomfort in your neck and shoulders — the issue may be more than just stress or clenching. The alignment of your bite could be affecting how your jaw functions, and ultimately, your quality of life.

At our San Marino dental office, Dr. Fary Yassamy specializes in neuromuscular dentistry, a holistic approach to treating TMJ disorders (also called TMD) by looking at the relationship between your teeth, muscles, and jaw joints — not just isolated symptoms.

What Is the TMJ, and Why Does It Matter?

Your TMJ (temporomandibular joint) connects your lower jaw to the rest of your skull. It’s one of the most complex joints in the body, allowing you to chew, speak, and yawn comfortably.

But unlike a simple hinge, the TMJ is part of a system — and when that system falls out of alignment, the results can be widespread:

• Jaw stiffness or soreness
• Headaches or migraines
• Clicking or popping when opening your mouth
• Difficulty chewing or locking of the jaw
• Tension in the face, neck, or shoulders
• Uneven tooth wear or bite changes

It’s Not Just the Joint — It’s the Bite

Many people assume TMJ problems are caused by stress or grinding — and while those are contributing factors, they’re often symptoms of a deeper issue: bite misalignment.

When your upper and lower teeth don’t come together in the right way, your jaw muscles and joints must overcompensate. This strain can lead to inflammation, pain, and dysfunction — especially over time.

That’s why Dr. Yassamy’s approach focuses on identifying the root cause of your discomfort, not just treating isolated pain points.

Learn more about our TMJ and neuromuscular therapy

How We Diagnose and Treat TMJ Differently

At our San Marino practice, we use non-invasive diagnostic tools — including digital bite analysis and jaw tracking — to understand how your bite affects the muscles and joints in your face.

This lets us create a personalized treatment plan that may include:

• Custom orthotic appliances to stabilize and realign the bite
• Gentle muscle deprogramming to reduce clenching and restore harmony
• Adjustments to your bite or restorative work using biomimetic techniques
• Invisalign or other orthodontic options to create long-term balance
• Breathing and airway evaluations if sleep or posture is a factor
• Collaboration with your physician, chiropractor, or physical therapist as needed

Our goal is to provide relief — but also restore function in a way that supports your total health.

Why a Whole-Health Approach Matters

As a certified neuromuscular dentist with extensive training from LVI and OcclusionConnection, Dr. Yassamy brings a unique perspective to every case.

She considers more than just symptoms. She looks at how your jaw functions, how your bite interacts with facial muscles, and how your airway and posture may be playing a role. This comprehensive view helps uncover connections that traditional dentistry might miss.

It's part of what makes our practice different — and why so many patients from San Marino, Pasadena, and surrounding communities seek care here when other treatments haven’t worked.