At New Age Dentist, it is the dysfunction of your jaw’s mechanics. When your bite is misaligned (malocclusion) or when the TMJ is injured, inflamed, or overworked, it can lead to a cascade of problems—not just in your jaw, but also in your head, neck, and shoulders. Symptoms include jaw pain or clicking, difficulty opening or closing the mouth, chronic headaches, earaches, teeth grinding (bruxism), and facial fatigue. Treatment focuses on relieving pain, restoring normal jaw function, and protecting teeth from damage caused by grinding or clenching.