A variety of symptoms can accompany temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. The range of possible symptoms can make TMD difficult to diagnose, as many of these symptoms could be caused by a variety of other issues.
TMD often includes one of more of the following symptoms:
Jaw pain
Clicking, spasms, or freezing in the jaw
Shoulder or neck pain
Headaches
Ear pain
Ringing in the ears
Any one of these symptoms, or a combination, could indicate TMD. Since many of them can also indicate other, sometimes serious conditions, it's a good idea to rule these out before pursuing TMD diagnosis. However, often patients who've been in pain for years stumble upon TMD as a last resort, since other doctors were unable to diagnose their condition. This is particularly common when recurring headaches or tinnitus are present without other accompanying symptoms. Once other possibilities are ruled out, many doctors don’t think of diagnosing TMD.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if you've had difficulty getting a definitive diagnosis, please contact Dr. Kirk Quigless, DDS. Dr. Quigless, St. Louis neuromuscular dentist, can diagnose TMD and recommend an individualized treatment plan that will correct your jaw alignment and eliminate your pain.
