Proper diagnosis of TMJ disorder is considered to be extremely difficult because it has a wide range of symptoms. By gathering some basic idea about some common symptoms involving face, head, ear, and teeth, you can certainly help your TMJ Chandler specialist to diagnose the problem promptly and correctly. Mentioned below are some classical symptoms of TMJ that are faced by most patients of TMJ disorder.
TMJ Clicking refers to the snapping and popping of jaw joint and is the most common symptom of a dysfunctional TMJ. Surprisingly, this clicking sound can be loud enough at times to be heard by others. This popping or clicking sound may or may not be accompanied by pain in the joint.
However, TMJ clicking certainly indicates the displacement of a disc. The clicking sound occurs because the muscles responsible for the jaw movement are tense and this result in severe neck, head, facial and muscle pain. Immediately contact a TMJ Chandler practitioner in case you experience anything like this.
TMJ locking is another common symptom of TMJ disorder. Patients suffering from this symptom find it difficult to open or move their jaws beyond a certain point. Persons with a locked joint are often found to move their jaws towards one side in order to open it. Locked joints can be unlocked by an expert TMJ Chandler dentist by helping you open your jaws until a loud pop is heard. Change in bite or the dental occlusion is another commonly observed sign of a dislocated TMJ. The bite changes when the TMJ disc moves out of its normal place. As a result, the discs and the bones do not fit properly, resulting in change, in bite.
Any TMJ related injury or disorder can also be identified by several symptoms related to ear because of TMJ’s intimate anatomical relationship with ears. Stuffiness, fullness, and ear pain are the most frequently observed symptoms. More serious cases can even lead to hearing impairment. Headaches in the back of the head and in the temples also indicate a problem with the TMJ system.
This headache is caused due to muscle pain resulting from irregular muscle movement by the grinding and clenching of teeth. This clenching and grinding also results in sensitive teeth. Improper diagnosis and treatment of these problems like root canals or extractions can only worsen the problem. It is important to have the problem examined by an experienced TMJ Chandler dentist if you face any of these problems. Proper diagnosis followed by treatment can solve your TMJ related problems permanently.