Where Is the TMJ Nerve Located? Causes of Jaw Pain Explained

If you’ve ever felt jaw pain that spreads into your ear, temple, or even the side of your head, you’re not alone. One of the most frustrating things about TMJ problems is how unpredictable the pain can be. Sometimes it feels like an earache, sometimes like a headache — and sometimes it’s hard to tell exactly where it’s coming from at all.

This confusing pain pattern has everything to do with where the TMJ nerve is located — and how it connects to the rest of your face and head.

The main nerve responsible for TMJ sensation is the auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) is the largest sensory nerve in your face and is responsible for sensations like pressure, temperature, and pain across the jaw, cheek, and forehead.

The auriculotemporal nerve wraps closely around the back and upper portion of the TMJ, right behind the condyle (the rounded end of your jawbone that fits into the joint). From there, it runs upward and backward, passing near the:

• External ear
• Temple
• Side of the scalp

Because of this exact nerve path, any inflammation or dysfunction in the joint — like disc displacement, joint compression, or grinding-related trauma — can directly irritate this nerve. And when that happens, you don’t just feel pain at the joint itself. You feel it in all the areas the nerve touches.

That’s why TMJ-related pain can present as:

• Earaches or ear fullness (even though the ear is healthy)
• Headaches near the temples
• Radiating facial pain
• Tingling or pressure near the ear or side of the head

In some cases, the pain can even feel like it’s coming from your teeth, which is why TMJ issues are frequently misdiagnosed as dental problems.

Making things more complex, the trigeminal nerve has connections with other cranial nerves — such as the facial nerve (CN VII) and cervical nerves in the upper neck. This can lead to symptoms that involve the eyes, cheeks, neck, or even shoulders. The brain doesn’t always “know” which structure is inflamed — it just receives the pain signal and spreads it through overlapping neural networks.

So when we talk about the location of the “TMJ nerve,” what we’re really talking about is the auriculotemporal nerve — and its position directly behind the jaw joint, with sensory branches reaching into multiple areas of the head and face. Its location explains why a small joint problem can cause such widespread discomfort.

Understanding this nerve’s anatomy is the first step in understanding TMJ pain — and why treating the source of inflammation is so much more effective than chasing symptoms.

Once you understand where the TMJ nerve is located, the next step is identifying what exactly triggers it — and that often comes down to a small but critically important structure called the retrodiscal tissue.

The retrodiscal tissue, also known as the bilaminar zone, sits directly behind the articular disc inside the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). To picture this, imagine the joint like a hinge with a soft disc between two bones — the mandibular condyle (lower jaw) and the temporal bone (skull). This disc allows smooth movement and absorbs shock as your jaw opens and closes.

The retrodiscal tissue anchors that disc in place. It acts as a stretchy, soft pad that helps the disc return to its resting position when you close your mouth. But unlike the tough, cartilage-like disc itself, the retrodiscal tissue is highly vascularized and filled with nerves — including branches of the auriculotemporal nerve we discussed in Question 1.

This means it’s incredibly sensitive — and prone to inflammation.

Here’s where things go wrong.

When the disc becomes displaced or the jaw joint is overworked (as in grinding, clenching, chewing hard foods, or trauma), the mandibular condyle can push backward into the retrodiscal tissue. This puts direct pressure on an area not built to handle mechanical stress.

The result?

• Sharp, deep joint pain
• Inflammation and swelling inside the joint
• Irritation of the auriculotemporal nerve
• A dull, throbbing ache that can mimic an earache or headache

And because the retrodiscal tissue contains both blood vessels and nerves, inflammation here causes both pain and vascular congestion. This is often why TMJ pain feels “full” or pressurized, especially in the ear or side of the face.

If this area becomes inflamed repeatedly or over long periods — which often happens in cases of disc displacement, bruxism, or arthritis — the tissue can become fibrotic and lose its elasticity. In advanced TMJ disorders, the retrodiscal tissue is often the structure that takes over the role of the damaged disc, which can lead to even more inflammation, pain, and joint dysfunction.

Patients with retrodiscal involvement typically report:

• Pain when opening wide or chewing
• Clicking or popping in the joint
• Pressure or ringing in the ears
• Increased discomfort when waking up (due to overnight clenching)

In summary, the retrodiscal tissue is the soft, nerve-rich tissue behind the jaw disc — and it’s one of the first structures to become inflamed when the joint is out of balance. Because of its proximity to the TMJ nerve, problems here often trigger radiating pain that mimics dental, ear, or headache symptoms.

Understanding this tissue helps explain why TMJ pain isn’t always constant — it worsens with use, improves with rest, and flares when inflammation compresses the most vulnerable part of the joint.

Once we understand that TMJ pain often stems from nerve irritation and retrodiscal tissue inflammation, the next question becomes: What can you actually do about it?

The key to successful treatment is targeting the cause, not just the symptoms. In many cases, patients try to manage TMJ discomfort with heat packs, massages, or over-the-counter painkillers — and while those may offer short-term relief, they don’t address what’s really going on inside the joint.

If the auriculotemporal nerve is irritated or if the retrodiscal tissue is inflamed, it usually means the joint is being overloaded or misaligned in some way. This could be from:

• Nighttime clenching or grinding (bruxism)
• Poor bite alignment
• Disc displacement within the joint
• Muscle overuse or tension from stress
• Previous trauma to the jaw

Here’s how we approach it at KYT Dental Services:

1. Reduce Joint Loading

We start by minimizing stress on the joint. If the pain is linked to grinding or clenching, a night guard may be prescribed. But not just any night guard — it must be designed to decompress the joint, not just protect the teeth. This allows the retrodiscal tissue to rest and begin healing without constant pressure from the condyle.

2. Control Inflammation

When inflammation is active in the retrodiscal area, we often recommend:

• Short-term anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen or prescription NSAIDs)
• Soft diet to reduce jaw overuse
• Ice or alternating heat/ice therapy
• Therapeutic Botox (in select cases) to relax overactive muscles pressing on the joint

If inflammation is not brought under control, the nerves around the joint remain irritated — leading to prolonged or spreading pain.

3. Address Disc Position and Joint Mechanics

If imaging (such as a CBCT or MRI) shows a displaced disc or structural imbalance, more advanced therapies may be needed, including:

• Custom occlusal splints that reposition the jaw to reduce pressure on the retrodiscal tissue
• Physical therapy focused on the jaw, neck, and posture
• Jaw exercises to strengthen and stabilize the joint
• Referral for TMJ injections or surgical evaluation, in severe or chronic cases

4. Manage Stress and Sleep Behavior

Because many TMJ problems are worsened by stress-related clenching, we also help patients manage:

• Sleep posture and pillow positioning
• Breathing habits (e.g., mouth breathing vs. nasal breathing)
• Emotional triggers of jaw tension
• Co-existing conditions like sleep apnea, which often worsens bruxism

In short, if your TMJ pain is coming from nerve irritation or retrodiscal inflammation, the solution isn’t just pain relief — it’s joint protection, inflammation control, and jaw realignment. That’s why cookie-cutter approaches don’t work.

Every case of TMJ pain has its own root cause. Identifying whether the nerve, the disc, or the retrodiscal tissue is involved helps us build a treatment plan that leads to real, lasting relief.