Symptoms
Common Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms vary between individuals and may include:
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Facial muscle pain
- Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
- Jaw locking
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds in the jaw joints
- Headaches and migraines
- Ear pain or fullness
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Difficulty chewing
- Facial fatigue
- Tooth sensitivity without dental disease
- Sleep disturbances
- Reduced quality of life
Persistent symptoms should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional experienced in TMD and orofacial pain.
Diagnosis
Accurate diagnosis requires a comprehensive clinical evaluation. Depending on the patient’s presentation, assessment may include:
- Medical and dental history
- Pain assessment
- Clinical examination of the jaw joints and muscles
- Functional movement analysis
- Sleep screening
- Imaging studies when indicated
- Digital jaw function assessment
- Collaboration with medical and allied health professionals
Early diagnosis may improve outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term complications.