Diagnosis
Diagnosing TMJ is not always straightforward. For example, facial pain can be a symptom of many conditions, such as sinus or ear infections, decayed or abscessed teeth, various types of headache, and facial neuralgia (nerve-related facial pain). At present, there is no widely accepted, standard test to correctly identify all TMJ conditions. In most cases, however, a complete evaluation, including a detailed medical history, the patient’s description of symptoms, and physical examination provide information useful for making a diagnosis.
Symptoms
Pain is the most common symptom. TMJ pain is often described as a dull aching pain in the jaw joint and nearby areas, which comes and goes. Some people, however, report no pain, but still have problems using their jaws.
- Other symptoms can include:
- pain in the neck and shoulders
- migraine and/or chronic headache
- jaw muscle stiffness
- limited movement or locking of the jaw
- painful clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth
- a bite that feels “off’
- ear pain, pressure, and/or ringing in the ears
- decreased hearing
- dizziness and vision problems
