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Orofacial Pain
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What is Orofacial Pain?
Orofacial pain refers to discomfort felt in the face, mouth, jaws or surrounding structures, and it can stem from a wide range of causes. This may include issues with the jaw joints (TMJ), muscles used for chewing, teeth, nerves, or conditions such as headaches or nerve-related pain. Symptoms can vary from aching, stiffness, or clicking in the jaw to sharp or burning sensations in the face. Because the causes can be complex, a thorough assessment is important to identify the source of the pain and guide the right treatment.
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Who should see an Orofacial Pain Clinician?
You may benefit from seeing an orofacial pain clinician if you experience ongoing pain or dysfunction in the face, jaw or neck that has not improved with routine dental or medical care.
- Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD): jaw pain, clicking, locking or limited opening
- Bruxism: clenching or grinding of teeth (awake or asleep) leading to muscle fatigue or tooth wear
- Muscle pain: affecting the jaw, temples or neck
- Chronic headaches: particularly those linked to jaw or neck tension
- Neuropathic pain: burning, shooting or electric shock-like facial pain
- Ear-related symptoms: pain, fullness or tinnitus not explained by otological causes
- Sleep-related breathing disorders: snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea, where oral appliance therapy may be appropriate
If symptoms impact eating, speaking, sleeping, or daily comfort, referral for specialised assessment is recommended.
Dr Sivitra Sivarajan
BSc, DMD, MScMed (Pain Management – Orofacial Pain)
Strong academic and clinical background in the management of complex orofacial pain conditions, combining expertise in dentistry, pain medicine, and sleep medicine for a multidisciplinary approach to care.
- Temporomandibular disorders (TMD)
- Chronic facial pain and headache disorders
- Awake and sleep bruxism
- Sleep-related breathing disorders (snoring, OSA)
Treatment approach includes comprehensive assessment, clear explanation of findings, and personalised management combining physiotherapy, oral appliances, medications and/or botox injections.
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