Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

Symptoms of TMD may occur in the head, neck, and shoulders.

Temporomandibular Joint : Areas of Pain

A number of symptoms may suggest TMD , including the following:

Pain in the temporomandibular joint
Popping, clicking, or grating sounds or sensations in the temporomandibular joint while eating and/or drinking
A sensation of the jaw “catching” or “locking” briefly, while attempting to open or close the mouth, or while chewing
Difficulty opening the mouth completely
Pain in the jaw
Facial pain
Muscle pain/spasm in the area of the temporomandibular joint
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Ear pain
Neck and/or shoulder pain
Swelling on one or both sides of the face

References:

Cummings CW. Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery . 4th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby; 2005.

Dambro MR. Griffith’s 5-Minute Clinical Consult . Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

Okeson, Jeffrey. Clinical Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Occlusion. 6th ed. St. Louis, MO: Mosby 2007.

Siccoli MM. Facial pain: a clinical differential diagnosis. Lancet Neurol . 2006;5:257-267.

TMD/TMJ (temporomandibular disorders). American Dental Association website. Available at: http://www.ada.org/public/topics/tmd_tmj.asp . Accessed September 17, 2008.

TMJ. American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at: http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/tmj.cfm . Accessed September 17, 2008.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders). National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research website. Available at: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth/Topics/TMJ/ . Updated August 2008. Accessed September 17, 2008.

Last reviewed June 2008 by ]]>Laura Morris-Olson, DMD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.