Many symptoms may be related to TMD. Pain, especially in chewing muscles and/or jaw joints, is the most common symptom. Other possible symptoms include:
Limited movement or squat lock
Discharges pain in the face, neck or shoulders
When you open or close your mouth, you may feel painful snoring, popping or harsh sounds at the ankle joint.
The sudden change in the way the upper and lower teeth cooperate
Symptoms such as headache, earache, dizziness, and hearing problems can sometimes be related to TMD. However, it is important to remember that occasional discomfort in the jaw joints or chewing muscles is quite common and usually not noticeable. Researchers are working hard to clarify symptoms of TMD. The goal is to develop dental supplies simpler, better diagnostic methods and improved treatment.
diagnosis
Since the exact cause and symptoms of TMD are not yet known, diagnosing these diseases may cause confusion. There is currently no widely accepted standard test to correctly identify TMD. However, in about 90% of cases, the patient's description of the symptoms and the simple physical examination of the face and jaw provide information for diagnosing these diseases.
Exams include feeling chin joints and chewing muscle pain or tenderness; listening to clicks during chin movements, popping or rasping sounds; and checking jaw movements or locking when opening or closing mouths. It is very important to check the patient's dental and medical history. In most cases, this assessment provides enough information to locate pain or chin problems, make a diagnosis, and start treatment to relieve pain or jaw locking.
Regular dental X-rays and TMJ X-rays (transcranial radiographs) are usually not used to diagnose TMD. Other X-ray techniques such as arthrography (joint X-rays using dyes); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which captures soft tissue; and tomography (a special type of X-ray), usually only when the doctor strongly suspects Symptoms such as arthritis or significant pain persist over time and symptoms need not be improved by treatment. It is always wise to obtain another independent opinion before conducting any expensive diagnostic tests.
One of the most important areas of TMD research is the dental equipment development of clear guidelines for the diagnosis of these diseases. Once scientists agree on these guidelines, practitioners will be more likely to correctly identify temporomandibular joint disorders and decide what treatment (if any) is needed.
