Jaw Pain Treatment for Casino
A night splint protects the teeth, but it does not release the muscles or the neck that keep the jaw tight, which is why many people still have pain. North Coast Head Neck & Jaw Centre is an osteopathy practice that treats only head, neck and jaw conditions. Our Lismore clinic is 30 minutes from Casino, and there is a second clinic in Ballina.
When a splint alone is not enough
A night splint from your dentist does an important job: it protects the teeth and cushions the joint. What it cannot do is release muscles that have been clenching for years, free up a joint that has stiffened, or address the neck tension that keeps the jaw tight. That is why many people with a splint still have pain.
The practice is run by Dr Leon Erdrich, an AHPRA registered osteopath with a special interest in the head, neck and jaw who also teaches in the osteopathy program at Southern Cross University. Because we treat nothing else, a first appointment looks at how the jaw opens and closes, the joint, the chewing muscles and the upper neck together, since the neck and jaw work as a unit. We explain what we find before treating, and we work with your dentist rather than instead of them. If the problem looks like something we cannot help with, we will say so.
Read more on our jaw and orofacial pain page. If headaches come with the jaw pain, our headache page for Casino may also help.
What happens at your first appointment
An hour. First, the history: when the jaw trouble began, any dental work or injuries, whether you grind or clench, and what has been tried. Then assessment: how the jaw opens and closes, the joint on each side, the chewing muscles from outside and, if useful, inside the mouth with gloves, and the upper neck. We explain what we find and usually start treatment the same day. You leave with a plan and things to do at home.
Where to find us
Lismore is 30 minutes from Casino and runs Tuesday to Thursday and Saturday mornings. Ballina is further east on the coast and adds Monday and Friday.
Lismore Clinic
- Hinterland Osteopathy 32 Molesworth Street Lismore NSW 2480
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Tue: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Wed: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Thu: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Sat: 8:30am – 12:30pm
Mon, Fri, Sun: Closed - Street parking on Zadoc Street or Molesworth Street, a two to three minute walk.
Ballina Clinic
- Ballina Health Centre 32 Tamar Street Ballina NSW 2478
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Mon: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Thu: 9:00am – 6:00pm
Fri: 8:00am – 4:00pm
Tue, Wed, Sat, Sun: Closed - Parking is directly out the front of the clinic.
Common questions
I clench my jaw all day at work. Is that the cause?
Very often. Daytime clenching, especially during concentration or physical effort, overloads the jaw muscles and is one of the main drivers of TMD. Becoming aware of it is part of treatment.
I had a knock to the jaw playing footy years ago. Could that still matter?
Yes. A blow to the jaw can change how the joint tracks and leave a disc displacement that shows up later as clicking, locking or pain.
Can my dentist in Casino refer me?
Yes. Many dentists refer patients whose jaw pain has not settled with a splint alone. With your permission we report back and coordinate care.
Can jaw treatment help my headaches too?
Usually. The muscles that clench the jaw run into the temples, and jaw-driven headache is common. Both are assessed and treated together.
Does treatment involve working inside the mouth?
Sometimes, because the clenching muscles are best reached from inside the cheek. It is done with gloves, explained first, and only with your agreement.
Is treatment painful?
Some muscle work can be uncomfortable for a moment, particularly inside the mouth, but it should not be painful. We adjust pressure to you and explain each step first.
How many appointments, and is there a Saturday option?
We will give you an estimate after assessing you, and space visits to suit the drive. Saturday mornings are available in Lismore.
What can I claim back on a jaw appointment?
If your extras cover includes osteopathy you can claim on the spot through HICAPS. A GP management plan from your Casino GP attracts a $61.80 Medicare rebate, and we can report back to them after your appointment.
Signs worth acting on
- A jaw that clicks, catches or has locked
- Morning face pain, tight cheeks or worn teeth
- Pain in front of the ear with no ear cause
- Difficulty opening wide enough to eat comfortably
- Temple headaches with jaw tightness
- A splint that has not settled the pain
A jaw that locks open or shut, or jaw pain with chest pain, needs urgent medical care.
How to book
Book online, choose Lismore or Ballina, and select an initial consultation. New patients pay a 50% deposit at booking. Fees and what to bring are on our patient information page.
Book an appointment
An hour with an osteopath who treats only head, neck and jaw conditions, 30 minutes from Casino. No referral needed, and we are happy to work alongside your dentist. If you would like to talk it through first, get in touch.