TMD: SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Does your jaw click or pop?

Do you have frequent headaches?

Do you experience “ringing” in your ears or dizziness?

Do you have difficulty opening your mouth, swallowing or smiling?

TMD is often called “the great imposter” because its signs and symptoms can mimic dozens of other disorders. Women of child-bearing age are most often affected, but men and children can suffer from TMJ-related pain too.

TMD can have a single cause or many causes. In addition, TMD can often coexist with other potentially related disorders. That’s why symptoms vary among patients, making this medical condition difficult for even a skilled physician to diagnose. However, a dentist with the appropriate training and expertise in TMJ-related pain and dysfunction can help patients (and their physicians) rule in or rule out a TMD problem…quickly and easily.

If you suffer from head, neck or facial pain, consulting a dentist with expertise in diagnosing and treating TMD should be your first step in seeking relief!

COMMON TMD SYMPTOMS

Do you suffer from any of these?

Headaches

Jaw joint clicking or popping

Facial pain

Neck pain or stiffness

Jaw joint pain

Worn, loose or sensitive teeth

Limited ability to open and close your mouth

Difficulty eating, chewing or swallowing

Dizziness or vertigo

Pain whenever you talk or smile

Earaches (or ear congestion)

Poor posture

Ringing in your ears

Non-restful sleep

A Special Note to Headache Sufferers…

You can probably live another day with headache pain, but you don’t have to!

Relief of headache pain is one of the most common reasons why patients come to us for diagnosis (and treatment, if warranted). Why? Briefly, it’s because headaches and migraine pain can often occur because of muscle tension that may be related to your bite.

If you are suffering from frequent or chronic headaches, we strongly recommend that you make an appointment with a qualified dentist to rule out the possibility of a TMJ disorder.

Doing so could get you on the path to feeling better quickly. It could eliminate the need for you to see a neurologist, otorhinolaryngologist, or other medical specialist. And it could end what all too often becomes a long, frustrating search for relief of a seemingly inexplicable problem.