Jaw Pain Relief in Glendale, AZ

Stop Living With Jaw Pain. Find Out What’s Causing It.

Independent · Doctor-Owned

Jaw pain that wakes you up. Headaches before you even get out of bed. You shouldn’t have to live like this. A TMJ dentist can find the cause and treat it properly.

Schedule Free Consultation (480) 530-3663
Appointments available in 1-2 business days.
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Diagnosing the Root Cause

What Could Be Causing Your Jaw Pain?

Jaw pain has multiple potential causes. Understanding which one is driving your symptoms is the first step toward lasting relief.

TMJ Disorder
The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull. When it’s inflamed or the disc inside is displaced, it causes pain, clicking, and limited mobility. This is one of the most common causes of chronic jaw pain and requires a proper dental evaluation to diagnose.
Bruxism (Grinding During Sleep)
Most people who grind their teeth do it at night without knowing. The sustained clenching force overworks jaw muscles and can reach several hundred pounds per square inch. Waking up with a sore jaw, headache, or sensitive teeth are classic signs.
Bite Misalignment
When your upper and lower teeth don’t meet evenly, certain muscles compensate with every bite. Over time, this uneven loading creates chronic tension and joint stress. Bite-related jaw pain often worsens as the day progresses.
Dental Abscess or Infection
An infected tooth or abscess creates localized jaw pain that can feel like it radiates throughout the jaw. This requires prompt dental treatment and may involve referral for more complex care. If your pain is severe and accompanied by swelling or fever, call us immediately.
Stress and Clenching
Psychological stress is one of the most underappreciated drivers of jaw pain. Habitual daytime clenching, often unconscious, keeps jaw muscles under constant tension. Combined with nighttime grinding, stress can make jaw pain a daily experience.
TMJ Arthritis
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis can affect the temporomandibular joint directly, causing progressive joint damage, stiffness, and pain with movement. Arthritic TMJ pain often worsens in the morning and with cold weather. Dental treatment focuses on protecting the joint and reducing load while you manage the underlying condition.
Impacted or Erupting Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth that are partially erupted or impacted can create pressure against adjacent teeth and the surrounding bone, radiating pain into the jaw, ear, and temple. If your jaw pain started in your late teens or twenties and concentrates in the back of your mouth, wisdom teeth are a likely contributor.
Post-Procedure Muscle Soreness
Holding your mouth open for extended dental procedures strains the muscles of mastication, and injection sites can create residual tenderness that lasts several days. This type of jaw pain is typically self-limiting but can overlap with existing TMJ symptoms. Let us know if pain after a recent procedure is not resolving normally.
Treatment Options

How We Relieve Jaw Pain

We match treatment to the root cause of your jaw pain. Most patients find lasting relief with one or a combination of these approaches.

Option 01
Custom Occlusal Guard (Night Guard)
A precision-fit guard worn during sleep prevents grinding, absorbs clenching forces, and lets jaw muscles recover. Most patients notice significant improvement in jaw soreness and morning headaches within the first two weeks. This is the most common and effective first-line treatment.
Option 02
Bite Equilibration
When an uneven bite is contributing to jaw strain, selectively reshaping specific contact points can redistribute bite forces evenly. This is a conservative, non-invasive procedure that can make a meaningful difference when bite imbalance is driving the problem.
Option 03
Injectable Treatment for Jaw Muscle Tension
For patients with severe bruxism or masseter hypertrophy, injectable treatment directly into the jaw muscle can reduce muscle activity and relieve chronic tension. This approach is particularly effective when muscle overactivity is the primary driver of symptoms.
Free Evaluation

Free Jaw & Bite Evaluation. We Can See You in 1–2 Days

Not sure if your jaw pain is dental in origin? Our free evaluation determines exactly what’s causing your symptoms and whether dental treatment is the right path. No pressure, no obligation.

Schedule Free Evaluation (480) 530-3663
Know the Signs

When Jaw Pain Means You Need a Dentist

Not all jaw pain looks the same. Here’s how to tell whether your pain is dental in origin, muscular, or both.

Signs Your Pain Is Dental in Origin
Clicking or popping when you open or close
Teeth that look shorter or more worn than before
Increased sensitivity on multiple teeth
Jaw locking or catching
Pain concentrated near the ear or jaw joint
Signs Your Pain Is Muscular
Diffuse soreness through the cheeks and temples
Tension that worsens under stress
Morning pain that improves later in the day
No tooth sensitivity or joint clicking
Either way, we evaluate both. Dental and muscular jaw pain often coexist. Don’t wait until it becomes a bite problem or leads to cracked teeth. (480) 530-3663

What Our Patients Say

4.9 (400+ reviews)

Independent & Doctor-Owned

Smile Science is owned entirely by Dr. Dawson and Dr. Turke -- two practicing dentists with no outside investors, no DSO involvement, and no private equity. The doctors making your treatment decisions are the same people whose names are on the practice.

Your diagnosis comes from a dentist who knows your bite history and full dental record -- not a rotating provider seeing you for the first time.

Your Questions Answered

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Many causes of jaw pain are directly dental in origin. TMJ disorder, bruxism, and bite misalignment are all diagnosed and treated by dentists. If your jaw pain is accompanied by clicking, popping, worn teeth, or morning headaches, a dentist is often the right first call. We offer a free evaluation to determine whether your pain is dental in origin.
A custom night guard is a precision-fit oral appliance worn while you sleep. It creates a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth, preventing grinding damage and allowing your jaw muscles to relax. Most patients who grind their teeth notice significant reduction in morning jaw soreness and headaches within the first few weeks of consistent use.
We can typically see new patients within 1 to 2 days. Jaw pain that is interfering with your daily life should not wait. Call us at (480) 530-3663 or submit the form above and we will get you scheduled quickly.
Stress is one of the most common triggers for jaw pain. Psychological stress leads to unconscious clenching and grinding, which overloads the jaw muscles and TMJ joint. Even if stress is the underlying driver, dental treatment, particularly a custom night guard, can protect your teeth and provide meaningful relief from the physical symptoms.
Yes. Dentists are often the first providers to identify and treat the most common causes of jaw pain, including TMJ disorders, bruxism (tooth grinding), and bite misalignment. Treatment options range from custom nightguards and occlusal adjustments to Botox for muscle hyperactivity. Smile Science provides comprehensive jaw pain evaluation in Glendale.
Some patients experience relief within days of starting a nightguard or anti-inflammatory protocol. For cases involving significant muscle inflammation, it may take 2 to 4 weeks of consistent treatment before pain levels drop substantially. Chronic TMJ cases may require a longer treatment course. We will set realistic expectations at your evaluation.
No. Smile Science is 100% owned by Dr. Dawson and Dr. Turke, two practicing dentists. There are no outside investors, no private equity involvement, and no management company directing clinical decisions. Both owners practice here full time. In a DSO or corporate chain, treatment recommendations can be influenced by investor returns, production quotas, or rotating providers who do not know your history. At Smile Science, the people making your treatment decisions are the same people whose names are on the practice. They are the doctors you will see at your appointment.
Your Care Team

Meet Your Glendale Dentists

Dr. Richard Dawson, DMD
Co-Founder
Dr. Richard Dawson, DMD
DMD, ICOI Fellow, OCS Certified. Focuses on jaw pain relief and TMJ treatment.
Dr. John Turke, DMD
Co-Founder
Dr. John Turke, DMD
Restorative dentist and digital dentistry lead. Implant Pathway Fellow. Focuses on jaw pain therapy, bite alignment, and TMJ appliances.
20118 N 67th Ave, Suite 308 -- Glendale, AZ 85308 -- (480) 530-3663
Patient Stories

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Visit Smile Science in Glendale

Address

20118 N 67th Ave, Suite 308
Glendale, AZ 85308

Phone

(480) 530-3663

Hours

Mon–Thu: 9am–5pm
Fri: 9am–2pm
Sat: Closed

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Also at Smile Science:
TMJ Treatment

Stop Living With Jaw Pain.

Free consultation includes a full jaw and bite evaluation. We can see you in 1–2 days.

(480) 530-3663 Schedule Online

Jaw Pain: Key Terms and Conditions

Definitions for procedures and clinical terms referenced on this page.

Masseter muscle
The primary jaw-closing muscle, running from the cheekbone to the lower jaw. Chronic overactivation through bruxism leads to hypertrophy, jaw pain, and headaches.
Bruxism
Involuntary grinding and clenching of teeth during sleep. Generates forces many times greater than normal chewing, overloading the TMJ and masticatory muscles and causing chronic jaw pain.
Pericoronitis
Infection of the soft tissue surrounding a partially erupted wisdom tooth. A common cause of acute jaw pain and trismus (limited mouth opening) in young adults that requires prompt dental treatment.
Trigeminal nerve
The primary sensory nerve of the face and jaw, responsible for transmitting most dental, jaw, and facial pain. Trigeminal neuralgia causes severe sharp facial pain that can mimic dental problems and requires medical specialist evaluation.
Therapeutic Botox
Neurotoxin injections into the masseter and temporalis muscles to reduce clenching force and provide lasting jaw pain relief. Effects last 4 to 6 months. A medical-grade treatment, not a cosmetic procedure.
Trismus
Reduced ability to fully open the mouth, measured as less than 35 to 40mm between upper and lower front teeth. Caused by muscle spasm, infection, TMJ inflammation, or joint restriction.