tmj symptoms
Signs and Symptoms of TMJ
Clenching and grinding of the teeth (bruxism) is a common sign of TJM disorder. The clenching and grinding of the teeth put additional stress on already tired, overworked muscles and can result in pain being referred to the head, neck, face, shoulders or back.
Headaches are one of the most common complaints of TMJ suffers and these headaches are frequently so severe they can be confused with migraine headaches. TMJ headaches are most often felt in the temple area, behind the eyes, and at the back of the head with pain radiating to the neck and shoulders.
Migraine headaches are mainly on one side with the patient suffering from visual disturbances and being extremely sensitive to light. The treatment for migraine headaches is much different from headaches from dislocated joints. If you suspect a migraine a headache, then a referral should be made to a neurologist. If the TMJ (jaw joint) is the problem, a referral should be made to a dentist or dental specialist with training in the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. An excellent reference for dentists experienced in the treatment of patients with TM joint disorders would be to consult the web site of the American Academy of Head, Neck and Facial Pain.
One of the most common signs of a TMJ problem is a temporomandibular joint which is making noise such a clicking, popping, or grinding sounds. This clicking sound occurs when the condyle moves forward when the patient opens the mouth and the condyle slips on and off the dislocated disc. The grating sound, called crepitus, is the sound of the bone and occurs later on when the dislocated discs become completely deformed. Another sign of TMJ dysfunction occurs when the jaw either locks open or closed. Our objective in the treatment of TMJ disorders is to try and correct the problem of the dislocated disc early in treatment when the jaw is clicking and not wait until the later stages when the grating sound is louder and the patient may experience an extremely painful situation if the jaw locks open or closed.
If the patient suffers from ear pain, ringing or buzzing in the ears, fullness or a stuffy feeling without any ear infection, then this could be related to a structural problem within the TM joint. Other symptoms include a loss of hearing, dizziness and loss of balance. If the condyle is too far back and the disc dislocated forward, this can cause some of the muscles of mastication to go into spasm which can cause any of the symptoms as mentioned above. If your medical doctor or ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist can find no apparent reason for the ear problems, these patients should be referred to a dentist or dental specialist with training in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with these problems.
TMJ disorders can be called “great imposters” due to the fact that many of the symptoms have overlapping symptoms which often mimic other conditions. Because these symptoms masquerade as so many other conditions, many people travel from medical doctor to medical specialist in search of a cure. Most patients never think to contact a dentist since the symptoms are primarily medical in nature.
Learn more about TMJ: