Jaw pain - dentist or doctor?

[NumbersLetters]

I have always had a clicky jaw. In recent weeks it's become more painful and last night it sort of crunched and now feels really bruised. Is it worth seeing someone and if so, a dentist, doctor or physio? Or noone...i probably would ignore it if it was my leg as id assume it would get better on its own.

I saw my dentist about mine, and got an immediate referral to a maxillofacial surgeon so I'd go down that route.

Thank you. Did they offer treatment?

They sent me for physio and suggested some medication for the pain. It really depends on what the issue is - mine can't actually be fixed without giving me a whole new skull but AFAIK jaw problems often improve with physio.

I think dentist or doctor can refer you to max fax department at hospital. Just to warn your appointment takes 3 months to come through, when you get there they generally give your a sheet of paper with advice on and tell you come back in 3 months if its not better. Hopefully, you will be helped more than that but I wasn't.

Things that they generally advise (but different at all hospitals) are:

Take ibuprofen or similar
Only have soft food for a while
Don't chew gum
Use heat packs on the outside of your face
Don't open mouth too wide ie avoid yawning

Other options a dentist can help with are a getting a splint for your teeth to wear at night, also they may look at your bite and check it is balanced.

There are also exercises your can do that you can google but probably only best once your are less sore and under the advice of a doctor.

The issue can either be to do with the joint itself or the muscles around the joint or both.

Thanks all. Sounds as though my usual laissez-faire plus ibuprofen attitude might be ok for now