Skip To:

TMJ Diagnosis & Treatment in Houston, TX

Jaw Pain Isn’t Something You Have to “Just Live With”

If your jaw clicks when you chew, aches when you wake up, or feels worn out by lunchtime, you are not imagining it, and you are far from alone. Chronic jaw pain is often brought on by stress, teeth grinding, or a misaligned bite, and all three are things a dentist can evaluate and treat. Our team works to pinpoint the cause quickly so we can build a plan that fits you, not a one-size-fits-all fix.

Ready to find out what’s behind your pain? Call Kimberley Lane Cosmetic & Family Dentistry at (713) 827-8200 or request an appointment online. We welcome new patients from Houston, Memorial, Westchase, and Spring Branch.

Meet Your Dentists

Together, our dentists bring decades of combined experience and a shared focus on personalized care.

Frank Incrapera, DDS, FAGD, has been in dentistry for over 40 years. A graduate of The University of Texas Dental School in Houston, he has completed more than 1,000 hours of postgraduate education with an emphasis on restorative and cosmetic dentistry and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.
Viet “Vince” Tran, DMD, graduated from LECOM School of Dental Medicine and completed a dental residency at the Orlando Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he developed advanced surgery skills, implant placement, and full mouth rehabilitation experience.

What Is TMJ, and What Is a TMJ Disorder?

Your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) are the two hinge joints, one on each side of your face just in front of your ears, that connect your lower jaw to your skull. Every time you talk, chew, swallow, or yawn, they work together with the surrounding muscles.

When those joints or muscles are strained or irritated, the result is what people commonly call “TMJ,” though the joint is the body part and the problem is technically a temporomandibular disorder. The symptoms can range from a nagging ache to a jaw that is painful to move.

Common TMJ Symptoms: Is This What I Have?

People often don’t connect these symptoms to their jaw. Watch for:

Jaw pain or tenderness, especially in the morning or after eating
Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when you open or close your mouth
Headaches, particularly around the temples
Earaches or pressure in the ears with no sign of infection
Facial, neck, or shoulder soreness
Difficulty opening your mouth fully, or a jaw that catches or feels stuck
Worn, flattened, or chipped teeth
A bite that suddenly feels “off”

Having one of these does not automatically mean you have a TMJ disorder. That is exactly why an exam matters: several conditions can look alike, and the right treatment depends on the real cause.

Who Is a Good Candidate for TMJ Treatment?

You may be a good candidate for a TMJ evaluation if you:

Wake up frequently with jaw stiffness, tightness, or morning headaches.
Notice visible wear, chipping, or flattening on the edges of your teeth from grinding.
Experience catching, clicking, or locking when chewing or talking.
Feel that your bite doesn’t meet evenly or experience uncomfortable pressure when closing your jaw.
Have older dental work or missing teeth that cause your jaw muscles to compensate.
Suffer from unexplainable facial soreness or ear pressure with no sign of ear infection.

What Causes TMJ Pain?

In our experience, three culprits come up again and again.

Stress: Many people clench their jaw without realizing it during a stressful workday, while driving, or at night.
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): Grinding puts heavy, repeated pressure on the joints and muscles, and often shows up first as worn enamel or morning jaw soreness. You may not know you grind until a dentist points out the evidence.
A Misaligned Bite: If your upper and lower teeth don’t meet evenly, your jaw muscles and joints may work overtime to compensate.

woman with mouth pain Other factors, such as a past jaw injury or arthritis in the joint, can also play a role, which is another reason a thorough exam is worth doing.

How We Diagnose TMJ Disorders

Our goal is to find the problem quickly and explain it clearly. A TMJ evaluation at our Houston office generally looks at:

Your History and Symptoms: when the pain started, what makes it better or worse, and whether you clench or grind.
Your Jaw Movement and Joints: how far and how smoothly your jaw opens, and whether there is clicking, catching, or tenderness.
Your Bite: how your teeth come together, and whether any signs of wear point to grinding.
Your Teeth and Gums: wear patterns, cracks, and other signs of strain.
Imaging: We use dental X-rays and intraoral camera images so you can see what we see on a chairside monitor. Our office also has an in-house CT/Cone Beam scanner that creates 3D images of oral and facial structures and may be used when more detailed imaging is needed for certain treatments.

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a TMJ Dentist in Houston

What specific training do you have in occlusion and bite alignment?Managing TMJ disorders effectively requires an understanding of how upper and lower teeth meet and move together. Ask if your dentist evaluates occlusion thoroughly before recommending a plan.
How will you check that my bite works with my jaw joint?Treatments or appliances that ignore your actual bite mechanics can cause additional jaw soreness or premature tooth wear over time.
Do you treat underlying oral health or decay issues first?A custom splint or bite adjustment built over untreated decay or damaged restorations won’t deliver lasting relief.
Will I get a written treatment plan with clear timelines and costs?You should know what care is needed, the order of treatment, and the financial investment before committing.
What non-surgical or conservative options do you recommend first?In most cases, conservative steps like custom splints, bite adjustments, and lifestyle modifications should be explored before considering invasive procedures.

TMJ Treatment Options in Houston

Occlusal Splint (Custom Oral Appliance)

A custom-made appliance that fits over your teeth, helping your jaw rest in a more relaxed position and reducing the load on your joints and muscles. It also protects your teeth from grinding damage.

Custom Nightguard for Bruxism

If nighttime grinding is the driver, a custom nightguard covers the upper teeth so they don’t grind against the lower arch. This protects your enamel and eases tension in your temporomandibular joints.

Equilibration or Occlusal Adjustment

Small, precise adjustments to how your teeth meet can help distribute biting forces more evenly if you have an uneven bite

Simple Lifestyle Changes

Sometimes, the most effective steps are the simplest. Your dentist may recommend habits such as:

Eating softer foods while your jaw calms down
Avoiding gum chewing and hard, chewy foods
Noticing and breaking the clenching habit (teeth apart, lips together, jaw relaxed)
Applying a warm compress to sore muscles
Finding ways to manage daily stress

Splint vs. Nightguard: What’s the Difference?

A nightguard is generally intended to protect the teeth from grinding, while an occlusal splint is designed around the patient’s bite and may be used as part of treatment for certain jaw-muscle or TMJ problems. Your dentist can determine which type of appliance, if any, is appropriate for your symptoms.

Does Insurance Cover TMJ Treatment?

Coverage varies a great deal from plan to plan. Some plans help with oral appliances or bite-related care; others treat certain TMJ services differently. We are in-network with many PPO dental plans, including BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Guardian, MetLife, Humana, and more, and we do everything we can to maximize your benefits.

If you are paying out of pocket, flexible financing through CareCredit, Cherry, and Proceed is available so you can pay over time. Call us, and we’ll help you understand your options before you commit to anything. See insurance and financing details.

Frequently Asked Questions About TMJ

Yes. Dentists are often the first to recognize TMJ problems because they can see how your teeth wear and how your bite comes together. At our office, treatment can include occlusal splints, bite adjustment, nightguards, and lifestyle guidance.

Commonly, stress, clenching or grinding, and a misaligned bite. Injury and joint conditions can contribute too. An exam is the way to tell which factors apply to you.

Jaw pain, clicking or popping, headaches, ear pressure, and difficulty opening wide are typical signs. Only an exam can confirm the cause, since other conditions can cause similar symptoms.

There is no single fix. Treatment depends on the cause and may include a custom splint or nightguard, a bite adjustment, and habit changes such as reducing clenching and eating softer foods for a time.

Mild, short-lived symptoms sometimes settle down, especially if a trigger like a stressful stretch passes. Ongoing or worsening pain deserves an evaluation, because grinding and clenching can also wear down your teeth over time.

Schedule Your TMJ Evaluation

Every week you wait is another week of pain. Let’s find out what’s causing it.

Call: (713) 827-8200
Online: Request an appointment
Address: Kimberley Lane Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, 12727 Kimberley Ln., #101, Houston, TX 77024. We’re just north of Westchase and east of Memorial, in the same building as the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery.
Hours: Monday to Wednesday 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Thursday 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Serving Houston, Memorial, Westchase, and Spring Branch. We’re currently accepting new patients.