Symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)

Symptoms of TMD may occur in the head or neck.

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
Headache
Ear pain
Neck pain
Swelling on one or both sides of the face

References

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

TMJ. American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at: http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/tmj.cfm. Updated December 2010. Accessed April 5, 2013..

TMJ. American Dental Association Mouth Healthy website. Available at: http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/t/tmj.aspx. Accessed April 5, 2013.

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 March 21, 2013. Accessed April 5, 2013.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php. Updated November 27, 2012. Accessed April 5, 2013.

Revision Information

Reviewer: Peter Lucas, MD; Brian Randall, MD
Review Date: 02/2013
Update Date: 04/05/2013

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.