BRENTWOODDENTAL & TMD
At a Glance
- Service: Jaw pain treatment: finding and treating the source of jaw, facial, ear, and head pain
- Serving: Nashville and Davidson County, including Donelson, Antioch, Berry Hill, and 12 South, from the Brentwood office just south on I-65
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Accepting new patients: Yes
- Key differentiator: A systematic differential that separates jaw-driven pain from the many other sources of head and face pain
If your jaw hurts and you have put off doing anything about it, you are in good company, and the delay usually comes from not knowing if it is even fixable or where to start. It is fixable in most cases, and the starting point is simple: find out what is actually causing the pain before anyone treats it.
Why people wait, and why that backfires
The common assumptions are that nothing can be done, or that the pain will fade on its own. Both are wrong. There are many successful treatment options, and jaw joint disorders do not resolve untreated; symptoms may quiet briefly, but the underlying problem degrades over time. Waiting tends to make treatment more involved, not less, which is the opposite of what the delay is meant to accomplish.
The many sources of jaw and head pain
Pain in the jaw, face, temples, and ears can come from several places: the chewing muscles, the joint itself, the neck, dental problems, or neurological and vascular sources. That overlap is why jaw pain gets misdiagnosed so often. Muscle pain from clenching can even mimic a true migraine. The work of treatment starts with a differential that identifies which source, or combination, is actually responsible for your pain.
What treatment involves once the cause is clear
Once the source is identified, treatment is matched to it. Muscle-driven pain, an unstable bite, and a displaced joint disc each call for a different approach, from a custom splint to bite correction to therapeutic BOTOX for stubborn muscle pain. Imaging with MRI and 3D scans confirms the joint's condition so the plan targets the real problem rather than the loudest symptom.
Getting Here From Nashville
The office is just south of the city in Brentwood, reached by I-65 south to the Old Hickory Boulevard or Concord Road exits, then a short drive to Virginia Way. From 12 South or Berry Hill, plan on fifteen minutes or so outside rush hour; from Donelson or Antioch, I-24 to I-65 south is the direct route. On-site parking removes the downtown hassle, and the 7:00 a.m. opening lets you come before work.
When to come in
Come in if you have jaw pain or tightness, facial or temple aches, unexplained ear pressure, a jaw that clicks or locks, or headaches that other care has not resolved. Even a painless clicking joint is worth evaluating, because these problems progress quietly. The sooner the source is found, the simpler the treatment tends to be.
Meet Your Doctor: Dr. Dennis M. Holmes
Finding the true source of pain is the part Dr. Holmes is known for. Headaches, jaw pain, facial pain, ear pain, and uneven bites are the exact problems he has spent 30+ years and more than 12,000 cases learning to trace to their origin, using modern imaging rather than guesswork. Once he establishes an accurate diagnosis, he offers a multi-disciplinary plan built for the best chance of lasting relief. For a Nashville patient who just wants the pain explained and handled, that is the whole point.
What to expect
Your first visit is a thorough evaluation to locate the source, using exam, testing, and imaging. From there, a plan matched to the diagnosis, starting with conservative options. Relief builds as the source is addressed and the jaw stabilizes, and the plan is designed to hold.
Nashville Jaw Pain Questions
My jaw hurts but I keep putting off doing anything. Is that a mistake?
A: Usually, yes. Jaw joint disorders do not resolve on their own; symptoms may quiet briefly, but the underlying problem degrades over time, which makes later treatment more involved. Getting the source identified early keeps treatment simpler.
Could my ear or facial pain actually be coming from my jaw?
A: It can. Jaw disorders commonly refer pain into the ears, face, and temples, and other sources like the neck can refer pain toward the jaw. A differential evaluation identifies which source is responsible before any treatment.
What causes jaw pain in the first place?
A: Common causes include muscle strain from clenching or grinding, an uneven bite, arthritis, injury, and a displaced joint disc. Because several sources overlap, imaging and testing are used to pinpoint the actual cause rather than guess.
How far is the office from central Nashville?
A: Just south in Brentwood, about fifteen minutes down I-65 from 12 South or Berry Hill outside rush hour. On-site parking and a 7:00 a.m. opening make it easy to come before work.
What does jaw pain treatment actually involve?
A: It depends on the source. Options range from a custom splint to bite correction to therapeutic BOTOX for muscle pain that resists first-line care. Treatment is matched to your diagnosis, which is established with imaging before any plan is proposed.
Brentwood Dental & TMJ
5120 Virginia Way, Ste C13, Brentwood, TN 37027
(615) 371-8888
https://brentwooddentalandtmd.com/areas-we-serve/tmj-specialist-in-murfreesboro-tn/
