Symptoms:

Symptoms associated with TMJ disorders may be:

• Biting or chewing difficulty or discomfort
• Clicking, popping, or grating sound when opening or closing the mouth
• Dull, aching pain in the face
• Earache
• Headache
• Jaw pain or tenderness of the jaw
• Reduced ability to open or close the mouth

Signs and tests:

You may need to see more than one medical specialist for your TMJ pain and symptoms, such as your primary care provider, a dentist, or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, depending on your symptoms.

A thorough examination may involve:

• A dental examination to show if you have poor bite alignment
• Feeling the joint and connecting muscles for tenderness
• Pressing around the head for areas that are sensitive or painful
• Sliding the teeth from side to side
• Watching, feeling, and listening to the jaw open and shut
• X-rays to show abnormalities

Sometimes, the results of the physical exam may appear normal.

Your doctor will also need to consider other conditions, such as infections, ear infections, neuralgias, or nerve-related problems and headaches, as the cause of your symptoms.