Yes, a car accident can cause jaw pain, even if your face never hit anything. Whiplash throws the head and neck back and forth, which can strain the jaw muscles and joints, and jaw symptoms can start right away or show up later. A 2025 review found TMD symptoms are about twice as common after whiplash as in the general population. Get your jaw and neck assessed early. At Shephard Health in Kensington, Calgary, we assess motor vehicle injuries, and we direct bill approved accident treatment to your auto insurer. If you are not claiming through auto insurance, a first visit is our $67 new patient exam and treatment, and we direct bill most major insurance providers.
Jaw or neck pain after a collision? Get assessed early
A jaw and neck assessment, treatment on day one when it is safe, and help with your Alberta auto insurance paperwork. No referral needed. Same-day appointments are often available. Book online.
In a rear-end collision, the seat pushes your body forward while your head lags behind, then whips forward. The jaw and the muscles that open and close it go along for that ride, and they can be strained. The neck injury matters too: the neck and jaw muscles work together, and a painful, guarded neck can change how the jaw moves.
Airbags, the steering wheel, or a hit to the chin or face can also injure the jaw directly.
Research backs up the link. A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis found TMD symptoms in people after whiplash at about twice the rate of the general population, and jaw pain after whiplash often comes with more neck pain and disability than jaw pain alone.
Get urgent care if your teeth suddenly do not fit together, you cannot open or close your mouth, your face or lip is numb or swollen, or you hit your head or face. These can mean a fracture or a head injury.
People with jaw pain after whiplash tend to have a slower recovery than people with jaw pain alone, so it is worth dealing with early rather than waiting for it to settle. An early assessment also records your symptoms for your insurance claim. We recommend booking within the first 10 days after a collision, which also makes it easier to access your auto insurance benefits. More in the whiplash recovery timeline.
See whiplash treatment options, massage therapy for whiplash and our TMJ chiropractor in Calgary page.
In Alberta, if you are injured in a collision, you are entitled to accident benefits (Section B benefits) no matter who was at fault, and they cover treatment such as chiropractic care and massage therapy. You do not need a doctor’s referral. Our team handles the paperwork: we submit the notice of injury form (AB-1), communicate with your auto insurer, and direct bill your approved treatment. Read more about motor vehicle accident care.
Alberta is changing its auto insurance system. For collisions on or after January 1, 2027, the province’s new Care-First auto insurance changes how treatment benefits work. We will help you with whichever system applies to your claim.
It can start at the time of the collision or appear later, once the first shock and neck pain settle. Tell your clinician and your insurer about any new jaw symptoms.
Yes. We treat the neck and jaw together with hands-on care, jaw mobilization and exercises, and refer you if anything needs imaging or a dentist.
No. You can book directly, and we start your auto insurance claim.
Accident benefits in Alberta cover treatment for injuries from the collision. We confirm coverage with your insurer and direct bill approved treatment.
The new patient exam and treatment is $67, and we direct bill most major insurance providers.
Same Day Appointments Available
We Direct Bill!
