Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- TMJ Syndrome Overview
- TMJ Syndrome Causes
- TMJ Syndrome Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- TMJ Syndrome Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome - Symptoms Experienced
Exams and Tests
- Medical history: In
diagnosing your jaw problem, the doctor will ask the following questions:
- What kind of pain do you have?
- Is it an ache or a
throbbing pain or a sharp stabbing pain?
- Is the pain continuous or intermittent?
- Can you outline the area of pain on your face with
your finger?
- What helps to alleviate the pain? What aggravates
the pain?
- Do you grind or clench your teeth? Do you bite your
nails or chew on any objects, such as pens or pencils?
- Do you hold the telephone with your shoulder
against your ear for a long time?
- Do you chew gum often? For how long?
- Do you have any oral habits that you have not
mentioned?
- What kind of pain do you have?
- Physical examination: During the physical
examination, the doctor will examine your head, neck, face, and
temporomandibular joints, noting any of the following:
- tenderness (pain) and its location;
- sounds, such as clicking, popping, grating;
- the mandible (lower jaw) range of motion and
whether it is easy to open and close and can move from side to side and
forward-backward without any pain;
- your assessment of pain on a scale from 0 (no pain)
to 10;
- wear and tear on the buccal cusps of the mandibular
teeth, especially the canine teeth;
- the rigidity and or tenderness of the chewing
muscles; and
- how your teeth fit together: normal, open bite,
crossbite, overbite, dental restorations, or skeletal deformity.
- tenderness (pain) and its location;
- Imaging: X-rays may be taken of the mouth and jaw. CT or MRI may also be used. The MRI was designed for soft tissue and, therefore, will show the location of the TMJ disc in relationship to the jaw and skull bones. That will give the doctor a better idea as to the proper treatment approach.
Next: TMJ Syndrome Treatment »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome - Symptoms Experienced
The eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:
For Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome, what were the symptoms and signs you experienced?
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Arthritis
Get the latest treatment options
From WebMD
Arthritis Resources
- What Are You Doing to Manage Your RA?
- Psoriatic Arthritis: 10 Tips to Fight Fatigue
- 8 Tips For Using Painkillers Safely
Featured Centers
- Top 10 Asthma Cities
- Health Check: How to Choose The Right Vitamins
- 10 Triggers for the Holiday Blues
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome »
TMJ, or temporal mandibular joint, is the synovial joint that connects the jaw to the skull.
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds



