Patient Problem

Board exams can be stressful for teenagers, but dealing with severe unexplained facial pain made the situation extremely difficult for one young patient.

A teenage girl visited Face n Dental Centre with persistent pain around the jaw and ear region. The discomfort began with a clicking sound in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and gradually progressed into radiating pain behind the ear and along the lower jaw.

The pain was worse in the morning and during cold weather. Because of the pain, she was unable to eat her favorite chapati roll and struggled to focus on her board exam preparation.

Despite visiting multiple doctors including an ENT specialist and dentist, the pain continued. She was even advised TM Joint surgery, which increased her anxiety and stress.

Diagnosis

The patient was referred to Dr. Prakash Patil – Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

After detailed examination, the underlying cause was identified as:

MPDS (Myofascial Pain Dysfunction Syndrome) caused by occlusal imbalance (bite imbalance).

Treatment – Occlusal Balancing

Instead of surgery, a conservative step-by-step treatment using Occlusal Balancing (Occlusal Equilibration) was started.

This treatment helps to:

• Distribute biting forces evenly
• Reduce stress on the TMJ joint
• Prevent excessive pressure on teeth
• Improve chewing efficiency
• Reduce muscle pain in the jaw

Occlusal balancing helps create a stable and comfortable bite while protecting the teeth, gums, and jaw joints.

Result

With gradual occlusal correction, the patient experienced remarkable improvement.

At her recent follow-up visit, she happily shared that she is now:

✔ Completely pain-free
✔ No longer requiring medication
✔ Able to focus on her studies again
✔ Enjoying her favorite chapati roll comfortably

This case demonstrates how accurate diagnosis and conservative treatment can successfully relieve severe facial pain without surgery.