19: The Smartest Doctor in the Room with Dean Mitchell, MD - Episode 1919: The Smartest Doctor in the Room with Dean Mitchell, MD - Episode 19
UK Health Radio Podcast
Dr Dean Mitchell talks with orofacial pain specialist Dr Donald Tannenbaum about TMJ, lockjaw and jaw pain, highlighting why these problems are best understood as orthopaedic issues. They discuss stress, medical conditions, misdiagnosis and practical approaches that help patients find more accurate answers and relief.
47:59•20 Oct 2026
Jaw Pain, Lockjaw and Stress: Dr Donald Tannenbaum Sets the Record Straight
Episode Overview
- TMJ is a joint (a body part), and many jaw issues should be viewed and treated as orthopaedic problems rather than purely dental ones.
- Jaw pain can stem from trauma, ongoing stress, micro-habits like gum chewing or nail biting, and wider medical issues such as arthritis, thyroid problems or sleep disorders.
- Careful history-taking and examination from the collarbones up are crucial, as many cases of facial and jaw pain originate in the neck or nervous system rather than the teeth.
- Treatments such as mouth guards, Botox and surgery have their place, but they often fail if the underlying cause of muscle overuse and tension is not addressed.
- Most patients improve with practical, collaborative care that includes education, behaviour change, exercises and, when needed, specialist physical therapy or medical input.
“TMJ is not a diagnosis, it’s a body part.”
Curious about how others manage stubborn, stress-fuelled pain that just won’t shift? This conversation on UK Health Radio’s *The Smartest Doctor in the Room* zeroes in on jaw problems, TMJ, and the many ways they can be misunderstood – or completely misdiagnosed. Dr. Dean Mitchell chats with dentist and orofacial pain specialist Dr.
Donald Tannenbaum, who calmly blows up one of the biggest myths in jaw care: “TMJ is not a diagnosis, it’s a body part.” From there, things get surprisingly fascinating. You’ll hear how jaw pain can act like an orthopaedic problem, much closer to a dodgy knee or hip than a simple dental issue, and how stress, trauma, medical conditions and even medications can all gang up on the face, neck and jaw. The episode walks through how Dr.
Tannenbaum assesses patients, starting with a relaxed, living-room style chat rather than dropping them straight into a dental chair. He explains why careful listening often holds the diagnosis, and why a jaw that hurts isn’t always a jaw problem at all – sometimes it’s the neck, sometimes nerves, and in rare but serious cases, conditions like trigeminal neuralgia or even cardiac issues.
There’s also a grounded discussion on mouth guards, gum chewing, bruxism, Botox, physical therapy, and why quick fixes often fail if no one has asked *why* the jaw is under so much strain in the first place. His upcoming book, *Lockjaw: A Human Problem*, aims to help both patients and clinicians make sense of this complex area.
If you’ve ever had lockjaw, chronic headaches, unexplained facial pain – or you just clench your teeth when life gets tough – this honest, practical chat might give you a few questions to ask at your next appointment and a fresh way to think about your jaw. Could your face be telling a bigger story than you realise?
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