Jaw joint diagnostics

If your jaw clicks or hurts when you chew, your face feels stiff in the mornings, you often get headaches around your temples, or you find it difficult to open your mouth wide, you may well be dealing with a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problem. These symptoms are often linked to teeth grinding (bruxism) and to a loss of balance in your bite. At our clinic in District V, Budapest, we use instrument-based diagnostics (Arcus Digma 2), facebow bite registration and a gnathological approach to uncover the cause of the problem, then help relieve the strain with a bite-raising splint. The first step is a free consultation.

What symptoms point to a jaw joint problem?

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complex joints in the human body: it is the movement of this joint that produces both chewing and speech. If the joint or the balance of the bite is disrupted, patients typically notice this through the following symptoms:

• Clicking, cracking in the temporomandibular joint when opening the mouth or while chewing.
• Pain around the joint, in the area in front of the ear or in the facial muscles.
• Headache, typically around the temples, which is often linked to overloading of the facial muscles.
• Teeth grinding, clenching (bruxism), which in many cases occurs at night. You can read more about this in our article on the signs and treatment of teeth grinding (bruxism) .
• Difficulty opening the mouth, stiffness of the jaw or limited movement.

If you experience one or more of these symptoms persistently, it is worth having the problem investigated before the strain on the muscles and the joint increases further.

How does the diagnostic process work?

Our aim is to see exactly how your jaw moves and where the balance of the bite has been disrupted. To do this, we use both instrument-based and manual measurements:

• Arcus Digma 2 measurement: an instrument-based examination of the jaw joint that precisely records the movement paths of the jaw. This provides objective data about how the joint functions.
• Facebow bite registration: we use a facebow to record the position of the upper jaw within the skull. This gives the dental laboratory precise information about the plane of the teeth and the midline.
• Central bearing pin bite registration: this allows us to determine the most comfortable position of the lower jaw relative to the upper jaw, as well as the correct bite height. It is particularly important when pairs of contacting teeth are missing.

The accuracy of the bite registration is decisive: it largely determines whether a subsequent tooth replacement or splint will truly be comfortable and easy to use. That is why we pay particular attention to it, with a gnathological approach.

Treatment options

We put together the treatment plan based on the results of the examination. For symptoms linked to teeth grinding, or those that strain the joint, the most commonly used solution is a bite-raising splint. This is a custom-made, removable splint that relieves the strain on the jaw joint and facial muscles, and also protects the teeth from wear caused by grinding. The splint is made in our own dental laboratory based on the measurements taken.

Prices for jaw joint diagnostics and treatment

Service	Ár
Arcus Digma 2 jaw joint measurement	115 000 Ft
Facebow bite registration	23 000 Ft
Bite registration with retaining pin	70 000 Ft
Bite raising splint fabrication	35 000 Ft

You can find the full price list on the dental prices page.

Frequently asked questions

When should I see a dentist about jaw joint symptoms?

If your jaw persistently clicks, cracks or hurts when you chew or open your mouth, if you often get headaches around your temples, or if you find it difficult to open your mouth wide, it is worth booking an appointment. These symptoms are often linked to teeth grinding and to a loss of balance in the bite.

What is an Arcus Digma 2 measurement?

The Arcus Digma 2 is an instrument-based examination of the jaw joint that precisely records the movement paths of the jaw. It provides objective data about how the joint functions, which makes both the diagnosis and the treatment plan better founded.

Does the jaw measurement hurt?

The measurement and bite registration are not surgical procedures but measurements that record the position and movement of the jaw. During the examination we adapt to your symptoms, and we discuss every step with you in advance.

How does a bite-raising splint help?

The bite-raising splint is a custom-made, removable device that relieves the strain on the jaw joint and facial muscles, and also protects the teeth from wear in the case of teeth grinding. It is made in our own dental laboratory, based on your measurements and the readings taken.

Book an appointment for a free consultation

Do not wait until the problem gets worse. At our clinic in District V, Budapest, we use instrument-based diagnostics and a gnathological approach to get to the bottom of your symptoms. Call us: +36 (20) 527-5547.