Frequently Asked Questions

 Dr. Farshid Ariz, DMD is a board-certified periodontist and triple-board Diplomate in craniofacial pain and dental sleep medicine based in Northridge, California. He holds Diplomate status from the American Board of Craniofacial Pain (DABCP), the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine (DABCDSM), and the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (DABDSM) — one of very few specialists in California with all three certifications. He has treated TMJ and sleep disorders for over 30 years.

Most dentists treat TMJ as a dental problem. Most physicians treat it as a pain management problem. Dr. Ariz treats it as a structural and airway problem — identifying and correcting the underlying cause rather than managing symptoms. His triple-board certifications, 30+ years of focused experience, USC professorship, and affiliation with TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International place him among the most specialized TMJ and sleep medicine practitioners in Southern California.

TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International is a global network of over 70 specialist centers in 7 countries dedicated exclusively to non-surgical TMJ and sleep disorder treatment. Dr. Ariz directs the San Fernando Valley location, giving his patients access to the most current international research, protocols, and clinical standards in the specialty.

 We have two locations in the greater Los Angeles area. Our primary location is at 9801 Balboa Blvd, Northridge, CA 91325 — serving the San Fernando Valley, Burbank, Glendale, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Santa Clarita, and Simi Valley. Our second location is at 11600 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 300, Los Angeles, CA 90025 — serving Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood, West Hollywood, and West Los Angeles.

TMJ disorder (also called TMD — temporomandibular disorder) refers to a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint — the joint that connects your jaw to your skull on each side of your face. It is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed causes of chronic facial pain, headaches, ear pain, and jaw dysfunction.

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint itself — the physical hinge joint connecting your jaw to your skull. TMD (temporomandibular disorder) is the medical condition affecting that joint. Saying “I have TMJ” is like saying “I have knee.” Technically, TMD is the correct term for the disorder — but both terms are widely understood and used interchangeably

TMJ disorder symptoms include jaw pain or soreness, clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when opening or closing the mouth, jaw locking or limited range of motion, headaches or migraines, ear pain or fullness, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), neck pain and stiffness, shoulder pain, facial pain, teeth grinding, jaw clenching, and difficulty chewing. Many patients have lived with several of these symptoms for years without realizing they are all connected to the same underlying jaw condition.

TMJ disorder is most commonly caused by structural misalignment of the jaw joint, where the soft disc inside the joint shifts out of its correct position. Contributing factors include prior trauma to the jaw or head, bite misalignment, bruxism (teeth grinding), postural issues, and airway dysfunction. In the absence of trauma, Dr. Ariz’s philosophy is that TMJ dysfunction is overwhelmingly structural in nature — and structural problems require structural solutions, not just pain management.

Yes. The temporomandibular joint sits directly adjacent to the ear canal and shares nerves, muscles, and ligaments with the structures of the middle ear. Dysfunction in the TMJ can cause or significantly worsen tinnitus (ringing, buzzing, or hissing in the ears). Many patients experience substantial reduction in tinnitus after beginning TMJ treatment.

Yes. TMJ disorder is one of the most overlooked and undertreated causes of chronic headaches and migraines. Muscle tension from jaw dysfunction radiates through the temples, forehead, and neck, triggering tension-type headaches and migraine episodes. Patients who have tried multiple headache treatments without lasting relief are often surprised to find that addressing their TMJ produces significant improvement.

Yes. Because the TMJ sits directly in front of the ear canal, jaw joint dysfunction frequently causes pain that feels like it is coming from inside the ear. Many patients are referred to us after ear, nose, and throat specialists find no ear pathology — the pain is actually originating from the jaw joint.