Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (cont.)
What are common symptoms of TMJ disorders?
TMJ pain disorders usually occur because of unbalanced activity, spasm, or overuse of the jaw muscles. Symptoms tend to be chronic, and treatment is aimed at eliminating the precipitating factors. Many symptoms may not appear related to the TMJ itself. The following are common symptoms.
Headache:
Approximately 80% of patients with a TMJ disorder complain
of headache, and 40% report facial pain. Pain is often made worse
while opening and closing the jaw. Exposure to cold weather or air-conditioned air may increase muscle contraction and facial pain.
Ear pain: About 50% of patients with a TMJ disorder notice ear
pain and do not have signs of ear infection. The ear pain is usually
described as being in front of or below the ear. Often, patients are
treated multiple times for a presumed ear infection, which can often
be distinguished from TMJ disorder by an associated hearing loss or ear
drainage (which would be expected if there really was an ear
infection). Because ear pain occurs so commonly, ear specialists are
frequently called on to make the diagnosis of a TMJ disorder.
Sounds: Grinding, crunching, or popping sounds, medically
termed crepitus, are common for patients with a TMJ disorder. These
sounds may or may not be accompanied by increased pain.
Dizziness: Of patients with a TMJ disorder, 40% report a vague sense
of dizziness or imbalance (usually not a spinning type vertigo). The cause of this type of dizziness is not well understood.
Fullness of the ear: About 33% of patients with a TMJ disorder
describe muffled, clogged, or full ears. They may notice ear
fullness and pain during airplane takeoffs and landings. These
symptoms are usually caused by eustachian-tube dysfunction, the
structure responsible for the regulation of pressure in the middle
ear. It is thought that patients with TMJ disorders have
hyperactivity (spasms) of the muscles responsible for regulating the
opening and closing of the eustachian tube.
Ringing in the ear (tinnitus): For
unknown reasons, 33% of patients with a TMJ disorder experience noise or ringing
in the ears
(tinnitus). Of those patients, half will have resolution of their
tinnitus after successful treatment of their TMJ disorder.
Next: How are patients evaluated and diagnosed when TMJ problems are suspected? »
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