Symptoms:

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

Signs and tests:

TMJ pain and symptoms may need to be checked by more than one medical specialist, such as your primary care provider, a dentist, or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, depending on your symptoms. Some dentists specialize in TMJ diagnosis and treatment.

A thorough examination may involve:

• A dental examination to show if you have poor bite alignment
• An MRI of the jaw area
• 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

In some cases, the results of the physical exam may appear normal.