TMJ and Teeth Grinding Treatment in Bountiful, UT
Waking up with a sore jaw, a headache at your temples or teeth that look shorter than they used to? We start with a free exam and a 3D scan of your teeth, jaws and airway, so you find out whether your bite plays a part, what orthodontics can fix and what it can't.
What are TMJ disorders and teeth grinding?
TMJ is short for the temporomandibular joint, the hinge just in front of each ear where your lower jaw meets your skull. When that joint or the chewing muscles around it hurt or stop working smoothly, the name is a TMJ disorder, or TMD. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research counts more than 30 conditions under that one label.
Teeth grinding has its own name too: bruxism. Some people grind or clench while they sleep, and some do it during the day without noticing.
The two often show up together, but they are not the same thing. Grinding can make jaw muscles sore, and a sore jaw can make you clench more. At your visit, we look at your bite and tell you whether it plays a part.
Many cases ease with simple, reversible care at home, which is where most people should start.
- A joint and muscle problemTMD covers the jaw joint and the muscles that move it.
- Grinding wears teethOver time it can flatten and chip teeth and tire your jaw.
- Often short-livedMany cases ease with simple care at home.
What is going on with your jaw? Answer three quick questions.
Tell us who the visit is for, what you are noticing and what you want most, and we will point you to a likely next step. It takes about 20 seconds, and your answers stay on this page.
Who is the visit for?
What are you noticing most?
What matters most to you?
Your next step is the same either way: a free consultation and 3D scan at our Pages Lane office. Plan on 45 to 60 minutes, and you will leave knowing whether your bite plays a part.
This is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your jaw locks, you can't open your mouth or you have swelling or a fever, call a dentist or doctor today.
Signs of TMJ trouble and teeth grinding
Most people notice one or two of these first. If several sound familiar, it is worth a look.
Morning jaw soreness
Your jaw feels tired or tight when you wake up and loosens up by lunch. That pattern often points to grinding or clenching in your sleep.
Headaches at the temples
A dull ache on the sides of your head, where the big chewing muscles sit, is a common sign of grinding.
Worn, flat or chipped teeth
The edges of your front teeth look shorter, or your back teeth look flat. Your dentist may have pointed it out first.
Clicking, popping or grating
A click with no pain is common and usually needs no treatment. A click that comes with pain or a jaw that catches is worth checking.
Pain when you chew or yawn
Biting into a sandwich or a big yawn hurts near your ear, or your jaw feels like it does not open as far as it used to.
Grinding a partner can hear
Many people only find out because someone else hears it at night. People who grind in their sleep are also more likely to snore.
Is my bite causing my jaw pain?
Sometimes it plays a part, and often it does not. Research has not found a strong link between a crooked bite and TMD for most people. A few bite problems are still worth looking at, because they can wear teeth down or put the jaw in an awkward spot.
Upper teeth that cover most of the lowers
A deep overbite can push lower front teeth into the gums and wear the upper ones. See deep bite treatment.
Teeth that bite on the wrong side
When upper teeth bite inside the lowers, the jaw can shift to one side to close. That uneven bite can wear teeth unevenly. See crossbite treatment.
Lower teeth in front of the uppers
An underbite changes how the front teeth meet and can wear them down over time. See underbite treatment.
Snoring or waking up tired too? People who grind in their sleep are more likely to snore or have sleep apnea. Only a sleep physician can diagnose sleep apnea, but your 3D scan shows your airway, and we will tell you if anything there is worth raising with your doctor. Read about airway orthodontics in Bountiful.
Can braces or Invisalign fix TMJ?
Not by themselves. The NIDCR says research does not support braces as a treatment for TMD, and it also says braces do not cause TMD. Where orthodontics helps is fixing a bite problem for its own sake, which can take strain off worn teeth.
Here is a plain breakdown of what orthodontics can and can't do for jaw pain and grinding.
| Situation | What orthodontics can do | What it can't do |
|---|---|---|
| A deep bite, crossbite or underbite | Move the teeth and jaws so they meet the way they should | Promise your jaw pain goes away with it |
| Teeth worn down from grinding | Line teeth up so your dentist can rebuild worn edges | Stop the grinding habit |
| Clicking with no pain | Nothing needed, in most cases | Make the click disappear |
| Narrow upper jaw, mouth breathing | Widen a narrow upper jaw with an expander | Diagnose or treat sleep apnea, which is a physician's job |
| Sore jaw muscles from clenching | Point you to self-care and the right next step | Relax the muscles or stop the clenching |
Avoid quick permanent fixes. The NIDCR recommends starting with simple, reversible care and avoiding treatments that permanently change the jaw joint, teeth or bite to treat TMD. A good orthodontist will tell you that too.
Night guards, braces and Invisalign for grinders
A night guard, also called an occlusal splint, sits over your teeth while you sleep. It does not stop grinding, but it can protect your teeth from wear. The NIDCR notes the evidence that splints ease TMD pain is limited, so a guard is mainly about protecting teeth. If grinding is wearing your teeth or leaving your jaw sore, we will talk about whether a guard makes sense.
If your bite needs fixing, both braces and Invisalign can do it. Many adults in Bountiful choose Invisalign, and while the trays are in, you grind on plastic instead of enamel. Others do better with braces, which do not depend on wearing trays.
Adults of any age can get braces or Invisalign. Read more about adult orthodontics.
- Self-care firstSoft foods, heat or ice, gentle stretches and less gum chewing.
- A guard to protect teethIt should never be built to permanently change your bite.
- Orthodontics for the biteOnly when the bite itself needs fixing.
What TMJ and grinding care costs in Bountiful
The first step costs nothing. Your consultation, exam and 3D scan are free, with no obligation.
If you need orthodontic treatment, braces and Invisalign start at $2,800 here, and you will see one written price that includes what insurance covers and your monthly payment. Our braces cost guide for Bountiful walks through the numbers.
Dental plans with orthodontic benefits usually cover braces or Invisalign up to a lifetime maximum. Coverage for TMJ care itself varies a lot, and some medical plans cover parts of it, so ask your plan. Our insurance FAQ explains how we check benefits.
We also offer in-house payment plans with no interest. See financing and payment plans.
Jaw pain and grinding care near Bountiful
Our Bountiful office is at 59 W Pages Lane, next door to South Davis Pediatric Dentistry. Here is how it fits the towns around it.
Bountiful and Val Verda
Students at Viewmont and Bountiful high schools, and their parents, are a few minutes from Pages Lane. Get directions from our Bountiful orthodontist page.
Centerville
Centerville sits between our two offices, so you can pick Bountiful or Farmington, whichever is closer to work or school. See our Centerville page.
Woods Cross and West Bountiful
Families near Woods Cross High are a short drive south of Pages Lane. See Woods Cross and West Bountiful.
North Salt Lake and Foxboro
From Foxboro and the rest of North Salt Lake, Bountiful is the closer of our two offices. See North Salt Lake.
Closer to Farmington, Kaysville or Fruit Heights? Our Farmington office has its own page on TMJ and teeth grinding treatment in Farmington, with more on grinding in kids.
Two offices, the same doctors and the same pricing
Teens and adults come to us with jaw pain and teeth grinding from Bountiful, Centerville, Woods Cross, West Bountiful, North Salt Lake and the rest of south Davis County. You see the same doctors at either office, and the pricing is the same at both.
Bailey-Welling Orthodontics - Bountiful
On Pages Lane, next door to South Davis Pediatric Dentistry.
- Call or text
- (801) 292-1222
- Office hours
- Monday8:45 AM – 4:15 PM Tuesday8:45 AM – 4:45 PM Wednesday8:30 AM – 4:45 PM Thursday8:45 AM – 4:15 PM Friday9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Reception) Sat–SunClosed
Bailey-Welling Orthodontics - Farmington
On State Street in Farmington. Look for the white building with the Bailey Orthodontics sign out front.
- Call
- (801) 451-6664
- Office hours
- Monday8:45 AM – 4:15 PM Tuesday8:45 AM – 4:45 PM Wednesday8:30 AM – 4:45 PM Thursday8:45 AM – 4:15 PM Friday9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Reception) Sat–SunClosed
What Bountiful patients say
Real Google reviews from patients at our Bountiful and Farmington offices.
TMJ and teeth grinding questions
For most people, the best start is simple and reversible: soft foods, heat or ice, gentle jaw stretches, cutting back on gum chewing and noticing when you clench during the day. Many cases improve with that alone.
A night guard can protect teeth from grinding. Orthodontics comes in only when your bite itself needs fixing.
An orthodontist can check whether your bite plays a part and fix the bite if it does. Every new patient gets a 3D scan of the teeth, jaws and airway.
What an orthodontist won't do is promise braces will cure jaw pain. If your symptoms point somewhere else, we will tell you who to see.
Not on their own. Research does not support braces as a TMD treatment. Braces can fix a deep bite, crossbite or underbite, which matters for wear on your teeth, but the jaw pain may not change.
Research does not show that braces cause TMD. Your jaw may feel sore for a few days after an adjustment, which is normal and fades. Tell us if jaw pain lasts.
Common ones are stress, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco, some medicines such as certain antidepressants and ADHD medicines, and sleep problems like snoring or sleep apnea. Often it is a mix.
If grinding is wearing your teeth down or leaving your jaw sore, a guard can protect your teeth while you sleep. It should cover your teeth without changing your bite. We will talk it through at your visit.
It can be. The trays cover your teeth, so you grind on plastic instead of enamel while they are in. If you grind hard, the trays may wear faster. We look at your wear and your bite before recommending aligners or braces.
A click with no pain is common and usually needs no treatment. Get it checked if the click comes with pain, your jaw catches or locks, or you can't open as far as you used to.
Call a dentist or doctor today if your jaw locks open or shut, you can't open your mouth, or you have swelling, a fever or an injury. Jaw pain with chest pain or shortness of breath can be a heart problem, so call 911.
Surgery makes permanent changes to the jaw joint, so it is not a first step. The NIDCR recommends simple, reversible care first. If you have been told you need surgery, ask what has been tried and why it did not work.
It depends on your plan. Orthodontic benefits usually cover braces or Invisalign. TMJ care itself is covered by some medical plans and left out by others. We check your dental benefits before your visit.
Yes, and stress around school, sports and screens before bed can make it worse. A teen with morning headaches, a sore jaw or worn edges on the front teeth is worth bringing in.
Bailey-Welling Orthodontics is at 59 W Pages Lane in Bountiful, next door to South Davis Pediatric Dentistry. Call or text (801) 292-1222. Your exam and 3D scan are free.