Why ICCMO Matters for TMJ Patients

ICCMO brings together dentists who don’t just look at teeth, they look at the whole body. Dr. Priya Mistry highlights why this conference matters so much: it’s a community of clinicians who collaborate, share cases, and actually want patients to get better. It’s where jaw function, posture, airway, muscles, nerves, and bite stability all come together under one roof.

And yes, this is also where the Unclenched podcast began, thanks to one memorable night of connection, wine, and The Golden Bachelor.

Why Bell’s Palsy Can Overlap with TMJ

One of the first audience questions is a big one: Can TMJ cause Bell’s palsy?

Dr. Alex shares a compelling case where a patient with noticeable facial drooping improved dramatically after:

• Ultra-low frequency TENS
• Imaging and joint evaluation
• A neuromuscular bite record
• A properly worn orthotic

Dr. Priya Mistry also shares that she has a family friend currently dealing with Bell’s palsy, and this conversation reinforces a key point: when symptoms involve facial nerves, jaw stability and muscle tension may be part of the bigger picture.

Headaches: The Root Cause Isn’t Always Where You Think

Another major question: “I’m experiencing headaches, what could be the root cause?”

Dr. Priya Mistry and Dr. Alex emphasize that by the time many patients reach a TMJ-focused practice, they’ve often already seen:

• Neurologists
• ENTs
• MRI imaging centers
• Multiple providers with no clear answer

In these cases, Dr. Mistry frequently finds what she calls “hot muscles,” overworked, inflamed, and referring pain into the temples, forehead, and scalp. Bite traps, deep bites, and muscle tension patterns can all contribute, and treating the jaw system can shift the entire headache pattern.

Clicking Without Pain: Should You Worry?

A jaw click can feel harmless, until it isn’t. Dr. Priya Mistry explains that clicking often means the joint disc is slipping in and out of alignment. That may stay stable for years, or it may progress to locking.

Dr. Alex adds an important clinical reality: sometimes a click disappears because scar tissue forms, not because the joint is healthier. That’s why a painless click still deserves evaluation, especially when bite timing or sliding is involved.

Dental Work and Braces: Yes, They Can Trigger TMJ

A common question that many patients never expect: Can braces or dental work cause TMJ symptoms?

Both doctors agree. Even small changes, a crown, filling, onlay, Invisalign, orthodontic finishing, can shift bite timing enough to overload muscles and irritate joints.

Dr. Priya Mistry shares a case where a patient developed immediate, severe right-sided pain after an onlay. With precise bite balancing and DTR therapy, her symptoms resolved, without replacing the restoration.

Tongue Pain, Breathing Issues, and the “Why is this happening?” Symptoms

This episode tackles symptoms people don’t always associate with TMJ, including:

Tongue pain or burning sensations

Dr. Alex explains how some patients brace their tongue between the teeth to stabilize the jaw. Over time, that compensation can create soreness, burning, and scalloped tongue ridging.

Breathing and airway dysfunction

Dr. Priya Mistry breaks down a key link: sleep-disordered breathing can drive clenching and grinding because the body moves the jaw forward to open the airway. Over time, that repeated stress can overload the TMJs and muscles, creating a cycle of airway strain and jaw dysfunction.

What Happens If TMJ Symptoms Go Untreated?

They both keep it real: most cases don’t resolve on their own.

Dr. Priya Mistry notes that a small minority of patients recover after a one-time strain, but chronic TMJ issues are often progressive.

Over time, untreated dysfunction can contribute to:

• More pain cycles
• Tooth wear and breakdown
• Muscle compensation patterns
• Joint structural changes
• Facial asymmetry and shifting bite function

Botox, PT, and Surgery: What Helps, What Doesn’t, and When

Botox

Both doctors agree: Botox may provide temporary symptom management for some, but it doesn’t correct bite instability or joint function. Dr. Priya Mistry also points out a major concern: weakening the masseter can allow the jaw to fall back into the airway, potentially worsening sleep breathing problems in certain patients.

Physical Therapy

Dr. Alex loves PT as an adjunct, not a replacement. The theme here is balance first, strengthen later. Some jaw exercises can be too aggressive early on and can flare symptoms. Dr. Priya Mistry emphasizes that the best outcomes come from PTs who truly understand the TMJ, neck, posture, and nervous system connection, which can be hard to find.

Surgery

Both doctors describe surgery as a last resort, reserved for specific structural problems like abnormal bony growth. Dr. Alex shares the rare case where she referred a patient for surgery due to an overgrown coronoid process. Dr. Priya Mistry shares a case of condylar hyperplasia where surgery was necessary because the bone continued to grow and shift the jaw.

For disc and muscle-based TMJ problems, both strongly prefer conservative, functional approaches first.

Small Changes, Big Precision: Why DTR and Modern Bite Analysis Matter

A standout part of this episode is the discussion of DTR therapy vs traditional equilibration.

Dr. Priya Mistry explains that paper marks don’t show timing or force. Dr. Alex drives it home: the problem is often a fraction of a second; a tiny early contact that forces the jaw to slide. Without digital timing and force data, you can’t reliably locate what’s happening first, what’s happening last, and what’s causing the slide.

That’s how experts evaluate and correct bites with less guesswork and more precision.

Is It Time to Get Help?

If you’ve been told your imaging is “normal,” but you still feel clicking, headaches, facial pain, jaw tension, airway strain, or unexplained symptoms, this episode is your reminder that the jaw system deserves a serious, whole-body evaluation.

Dr. Priya Mistry believes patients deserve answers that make sense, and a plan rooted in function, not just symptom masking.

If you’re ready to explore whether your bite, joints, muscles, and airway may be contributing to what you’re experiencing, schedule a consultation with The TMJ Doc.