Jaw pain after a whiplash injury is more common than most people expect. A 2025 meta-analysis found pain from temporomandibular disorders, problems of the jaw joint and chewing muscles, in about one in five people soon after whiplash and about one in four in the chronic stage, compared with about one in twenty controls. An older controlled study found jaw pain rare after whiplash. Both deserve a fair reading, and I explain both to patients in Charlotte who notice jaw pain after a crash.
What the Meta-Analysis Found
Researchers in Sweden and Singapore pooled studies reporting jaw disorder symptoms after whiplash trauma (Häggman-Henrikson, Eur J Pain 2025). Fourteen studies met their criteria, and nine were combined in a meta-analysis. The average prevalence of jaw disorder pain was 18.9% in the acute stage after whiplash, 26.8% in the chronic stage, defined as more than three months after trauma, and 5.7% in controls.
The authors found no evidence that jaw pain decreased from the acute to the chronic stage. They concluded that patients with face or jaw pain after whiplash should be assessed early, not managed with a wait-and-see approach.
What the Controlled Prospective Study Found
A Danish study followed 19 people with acute whiplash from rear-end collisions and 20 people with ankle injuries, matched for age and sex (Kasch, J Orofac Pain 2002). A dentist who did not know which injury each person had examined them at about four weeks and at six months. One person in each group had jaw pain at the first visit, and jaw symptoms and signs did not differ significantly between the groups at either visit. The authors concluded that whiplash was not a major risk factor for jaw disorders.
How the Two Findings Fit
The Danish study was small, and with 19 patients it could not detect modest differences. The meta-analysis pooled thousands of people, but the studies it combined differed in how they defined and measured jaw disorders, and the authors assessed their risk of bias. The fair reading is that jaw pain after whiplash is not universal, is meaningfully more common than in uninjured people across the pooled data, and tends to persist when it is present.
The Quebec Task Force listed jaw pain among the symptoms that can appear at any grade of whiplash-associated disorder (Spitzer, Spine 1995).
What to Do About It
Jaw pain, clicking, locking, or difficulty opening the mouth after a crash should be reported at the first visit, not saved for later. When it is present, I document it and refer to a dentist or orofacial pain specialist for examination of the jaw joint and chewing muscles, because jaw disorders are diagnosed and managed within their scope. Neck findings and jaw findings are recorded separately so neither is lost.
For an example of how post-collision imaging findings and outcomes are documented in the peer-reviewed literature, read the published case report on refractory lumbar pain following a motor vehicle accident in a geriatric patient by Dr. Justin Dick, DC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can whiplash cause jaw pain?
Yes. A 2025 meta-analysis found jaw disorder pain in 18.9% of people in the acute stage after whiplash and 26.8% in the chronic stage, compared with 5.7% of controls (Häggman-Henrikson, Eur J Pain 2025).
Does jaw pain after a car accident go away on its own?
The 2025 meta-analysis found no evidence that jaw pain decreased from the acute to the chronic stage, and the authors recommended early assessment.
Is TMJ after whiplash common?
It is more common than in uninjured people in pooled data, though one small controlled study found jaw pain rare after whiplash (Kasch, J Orofac Pain 2002).
Who treats jaw pain after a car accident?
A dentist or orofacial pain specialist examines and manages jaw joint and chewing muscle disorders.
What does Dr. Justin Dick, DC do when a patient reports jaw pain after whiplash?
Dr. Justin Dick, DC in Charlotte, NC documents the jaw symptoms separately from neck findings and refers to a dentist or orofacial pain specialist.
Where can I get jaw and neck symptoms evaluated after a car accident in Charlotte, NC?
Dr. Justin Dick, DC, CNMT, ARRT(N)(CT), sees car accident patients at Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center, 8814 Rachel Freeman Wy, Ste 103, Charlotte, NC 28278, phone 980-368-0766. Personal injury patients are treated on a lien basis, with no out-of-pocket payment at the time of care.
Sources and Evidence Tiers
- Häggman-Henrikson B, Lövgren A, Wu WY, Peck C, Westergren H, List T. Prevalence of temporomandibular disorder symptoms after whiplash trauma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Pain. 2025;29(3):e4792. PMID 39921489. LinkEvidence tier: Systematic review and meta-analysis
- Kasch H, Hjorth T, Svensson P, Nyhuus L, Jensen TS. Temporomandibular disorders after whiplash injury: a controlled, prospective study. J Orofac Pain. 2002;16(2):118-128. PMID 12043518. LinkEvidence tier: Small controlled prospective cohort (19 whiplash, 20 ankle-injury controls)
- Spitzer WO, Skovron ML, Salmi LR, et al. Scientific monograph of the Quebec Task Force on Whiplash-Associated Disorders: redefining whiplash and its management. Spine. 1995;20(8 Suppl):1S-73S. PMID 7604354. LinkEvidence tier: Task force consensus monograph (expert consensus)
About the author. Dr. Justin Dick, DC, is the owner and treating clinician at Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center in Charlotte, NC. He holds dual imaging credentials as a Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT) and as an ARRT-registered technologist in nuclear medicine and CT, ARRT(N)(CT). He is a Senior Fellow of the CLEAR Institute, holds the ISICO World Masters credential, is a SOSORT provisional member, and is a certified DOT medical examiner on the FMCSA National Registry. He has multiple peer-reviewed publications indexed in PubMed and serves as a field doctor for Life, Sherman, and Palmer chiropractic colleges. ORCID: 0009-0001-2794-2159.
Service Area
Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center sees personal injury and spinal imaging patients from Charlotte NC, Huntersville NC, Ballantyne NC, Matthews NC, Concord NC, Mooresville NC, Rock Hill SC, and Fort Mill SC.
Related Pages
- Personal injury and car accident spinal care in Charlotte
- Research by Dr. Justin Dick, DC
- Case report: refractory lumbar pain after a motor vehicle accident
- Research and evidence at Clear Life
- Questions and answers
- Our team
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- Book your evaluation
- Contact Clear Life
Clear Life Scoliosis and Chiropractic Center
8814 Rachel Freeman Wy, Ste 103
Charlotte, NC 28278
Phone: 980-368-0766
Email: office@clearlifescoliosis.com
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