Cherie
YEs, tmj is renowned for being caused by dental work - either long term wrk like braces or, as inmy case, the reoval of a tooth,particulalry from the lower jaw.
My tmj is not as severe as many on here, nor yours it seems. Pain is not my biggest enemy but other symptoms - mainly ear problems, dizziness, eustachian tubes, throat discomfort etc. But the ear problem started within an hour of having a lower molar removed - downward pressure on the jaw was heavy. That night I had my first big dizzy spell. I have been seein ga cranial oesteopath about it and it has largely helped.
As for pregnancy. It is difficult to say whether this can make it worse. When you are pregnant, one of the things that happens to your body is your ligaments begin to soften up - ready for getting that baby out! -and is one of the reasons people get aches and pains.
It is possible, I suppose, that this is happeneing in your jaw and is making an already unstable joint more so, thus causing pain.
I suggest that you go to see a doctor about it but ultimatley, gentle manipulation might be your best bet in the long run.