Expert: Miguel Rodriguez, DDS, MBA - 11/20/2006

Question
I recently went to the dentist for a pain in my lower back molar on the left side.  It hurts when I bite down and my jaw hurts to open.  It feels very stiff in the morning.  The dentist put me on antibiotic and has a root canal schedules for a week from today.  My question is more related to my jaw.  My jaw hurts up near my ear.  There is no popping - just pain.  Could it really be the tooth that needs the root canal...or could it be some other issue.  This tooth has a filling and hasn't really given me any problems until this pain just woke me up in the middle of the night.  If my jaw is bumped...it just hurts terribly.  Should I get a second opinion.  I guess I have just never had a tooth cause my jaw so much pain.  Thanks much!

Answer
Well, referred pain is something that can happen. This means that you may feel pain somewhere other than the zone where the pain is originating, i.e. having upper molar pain when you have a sinus condition.

Nonetheless, it is possible that you have a TMJ condition, due to factors that need to be studied. TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, that is, the hinge where your jaw links to the base of the skull (a hinge which is located right in front of your ear.

I would suggest that visit a periodontist or an oral surgeon and explain the situation, to thus have their opinion on the matter.