Both have a role, and it depends on the driver. Dentists manage the bite, tooth wear and splints. Physiotherapists treat the joint mechanics, muscle tension and neck contribution. If your pain is worse with chewing and jaw movement, and your teeth are healthy, start with a physiotherapy assessment. If you have tooth pain, sensitivity or a broken filling, see your dentist first.

Yes. The jaw joint sits directly against the ear canal, and the chewing muscles share nerve supply with structures in the ear. That is why TMJ disorder can produce earache, fullness or ringing when your ears are clear on examination. If you have discharge, fever or hearing loss, see your GP, because those point to an ear condition rather than the jaw.

Sometimes. Some of the muscles that close your jaw, particularly the pterygoids, can only be reached from inside the mouth. Your practitioner uses a gloved finger for a short period, and always explains it and asks first. It is optional. Plenty of people improve with external techniques, exercise and neck treatment alone, so say no if you would rather not.

A night guard protects your teeth from wear, which is valuable, but it does not stop the clenching itself. Many people still wake with jaw tightness while wearing one. That is why treatment also targets muscle tension, jaw control and the stress and sleep factors behind grinding. A guard and hands-on treatment often work well together.

A painless click that does not limit your opening is common and usually does not need treatment. Book an assessment if the click becomes painful, if it starts catching, if your opening range drops, or if the sound changes to grating. Those changes suggest the disc or joint surface is being loaded differently, and early treatment is simpler than late treatment.

If your jaw locks closed and you cannot open more than a couple of centimetres, apply warmth, keep to soft food and avoid forcing it open, then book promptly. If your jaw locks open and will not close, that needs same-day medical care to reduce the joint. Repeated locking episodes should be assessed rather than managed at home.