TMJ SymptomsTMJ Symptoms or signs symptoms of TMJ can be any Jaw pain, TMJ headache, TMJ ear pain or discomfort, ringing in ear, fullness in the ear, and any pain associated with the face area.
Jaw pain: Click on the Jaw Pain link for more info.Clicking and Popping: Click on the That can be pain typically in the mandible (lower jaw) and just in front of the ear (The temporomandibular joint area). People can also have jaw pain in the upper jaw (the maxilla). But that pain can sometimes be mistaken as sinus issues and vice versa. You'll need to see your Dentist to rule out any Tumors and cysts which do accur accasionaly, and to check for infection in the Jaw bone which are usually related with teeth. Clicking and/or popping: The more common clicking or popping is the meniscus or disc in the Temporomandibular Joint when it stays forward and inside of it's regular place in the TMJ Capsule or Joint. When this happens, it is a common irregularity in the funcion of the joint or TMJ. Typically when someone has a slipping, clicking, or a popping disc, it is Irreversible, and will always slip out, pop, click and dislocate for the rest of your life. It is a rare case that we can cure, or recapture the disc from displacing or popping like that. Sometimes people come in to me for a TMJ exam and report TMJ Symptoms that there is a popping in the joint when it is a natural or normal popping when the individual opens their mouth wide. So, if you have a "Bump" or a popping when you open your mouth wide, it may be just the normal "BUMP" that everyone has. Some Bumps are just more noticable than others. You may even place your fingers or hands on the side of your face and feel more noticeable bumping in front of your ear from one side compared to the other, and think that there is something wrong.
TMJ headaches: The two more common types of headaches are Migraine and Tension Headaches. I can't help you out much with Migraine headaches, although sometimes people are misdiagnosed with Tension headaches as Migraines. So, there still is hope if you have a "Headache", that you can be cured of your headaches with TMJ Therapy. So, I'd recommend you rule out the Tension headache and treat it with TMJ splint therapy to see if it helps. If it doesn't, then continue with the Migraine Treatment. You can treat the TMJ Headaches as a Tension headaches, because that's what they are....Tension Headaches. Treat them with a Dental appliance. Ringing in Ears: This is Tinnitus, and the ringing in Ears can be caused by several different ways. But when my TMJ patients come in for treatment with their TMJ Jaw Pain, the Ringing in Ears go away just about every single time. So, it sure is a good idea and recommendation to treat your Tinitus with a Dental TMJ Appliance. Lock Jaw: That's when you can't open your mouth much past one finger width if you try to put your finger in your mouth when it is locked shut or when you can't open it. There are Two common TMJ Symptoms of Lock Jaw... A True Lock Jaw when your TMJ disc is stuck in a position preventing your joint from junctioning properly. And the second is Trismus. That is when your Jaw muscles are in a spasm and just won't let you open your mouth. Either one can be treated with a TMJ Splint. You really don't want to mess around with trying to cure it with a store bought mouthguard because if it is stuck too long, the tissues will adhere, glue, or bond in that position and often require open TMJ Surgery to unlock the Lock Jaw. So, go see the TMJ Dentist for that one RIGHT AWAY. It only takes a few weeks to permanantly bond in the stuck closed position. Fullness in the Ear: Fullness in the Ear feels like you can't clear out your ears when you're ascending or descending in Altitudes, such as what happens when flying in an airplane. Several patients have come in for treatment for their Fullness of ears. I only have a few patients that I was not able to cure with that symptom. I would say that that symptom is eliminated about seventy to eighty percent of the time. So, that is probably the one of the TMJ symptoms that I've had the least amount of success with. But TMJ Therapy still has worked for most.
BTW, my NEW TMJ Night Guard was tested this week and it passed with flying colors-...It will stop or reduce... -Jaw Pain -TMJ Joint pain -Tension Headaches -Ear pain associated with TMD -Ringing in the ears associated with TMD -Tooth sensitivities associated with TMD -Sinus pain associated with TMD -Mine will actually be the most effective Guard available to improve Athletic Performance -You'll sleep comfortably -You'll wake up haveing deeper sleep -It will actually STAY in your mouth while you sleep. -You'll probably want to wear it during the day -Reduce popping and clicking in the TMJs -Eliminate Lock Jaw -eliminate Trismus -You'll feel normal again
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In almost every case, that is normal. Just like if you draw a line down the middle of your face, the left side is not an exact mirror image of the right side. You have slight deviations from one side to the other. And so it is with the bumpiness on the side of your face at the TMJ area. When you open your mouth, you might feel differences between one side over the other, which is most of the time normal.