SELF TEST FOR TMD
Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself, to help determine if you have any TMJ symptoms:
1. |
Do you get an unusual amount of headaches? |
2. |
Do you have a grating, clicking or popping sound in either or both jaw joints, when you chew or open and close your mouth? |
3. |
Do you have pain or soreness in any of the following areas: jaw joints, upper jaw, lower jaw, side of neck, back of head, forehead,behind the eyes or temples? |
4. |
Do you have sensations of stuffiness, pressure or blockage in your ears? Is there excessive wax buildup? |
5. |
Do you ever have ringing, roaring, hissing or buzzing sounds in your ears? |
6. |
Do you ever feel dizzy or faint? |
7. |
Do your fingers, hands or arms sometimes tingle or go numb? |
8. |
Are you tired all the time, fatigue easily or consider yourself chronically fatigued? |
9. |
Are there imprints of your teeth on the sides of your tongue? |
10. |
Does your tongue go between your teeth when you swallow? |
11. |
Do you have difficulty in chewing your food? |
12. |
Do you have any missing back teeth? |
13. |
Do you clench your teeth during the day or at night? |
14. |
Do you grind your teeth at night? (Ask your family.) |
15. |
Do you ever awaken with a headache? |
16. |
Have you ever had a whiplash injury? |
17. |
Have you ever experienced a blow to the chin, face or head? |
18. |
Have you reached the point where drugs no longer relieve your symptoms? |
19. |
Does chewing gum worsen your symptoms? |
20. |
Is it painful to stick your "pinky" fingers into your ears with your mouth open wide and then close your mouth while pressing forward with your "pinky" fingers? |
21. |
Does your jaw slide to the left or right when you open wide? (Look in a mirror.) |
If you answered yes to some of these questions, you may have a TMJ disorder (TMD) Consult your dentist for an examination.
Here are some ways you can visually check your TM joint:
- Put your fingers inside your ears. Open and close several times. Does the jaw click or crack, or do you feel a grinding sensation?
- While looking in a mirror, open very slowly, notice whether or not your jaw swings to one side while opening and closing. Is there any pain present?
- Slide your jaw from side to side, make note of any pain you may experience.
Check for muscle sensitivity:
∙ Place your fingers in front of your ears on the joint and apply pressure.
- Also apply pressure to the cheek area
- If you notice discomfort or pain have your jaw joint checked by a dentist who treats patients with jaw joint disorders!
Who Will Benefit?
Anyone who suffers from chronic head, neck and/or facial pain will benefit from a thorough exam and, if indicated, treatment by a dentist who specializes in TMJ-related pain and dysfunction. This is especially true if standard medical evaluation and diagnostic testing has failed to reveal the cause of your head, neck or facial pain. Today, 75% of the U.S. population has experienced signs or symptoms of TMD. An estimated 5-10% will require specialized dental and oral therapies, with less than 3% of these patients requiring surgery in order to gain relief.
Early Diagnosis is Key.
TMJ is often a chronic, degenerative disorder. Jaw-joint related pain and dysfunction worsens over time. As symptoms become more severe, your treatment options also become more limited. That’s why we believe TMD should be ruled out as part of the differential diagnosis of all patients with head, neck and/or facial pain.
If you experience frequent headaches and/or neck and facial pain, consult with a qualified dentist first to rule out the possibility of a TMJ disorder. Doing so could eliminate the need for you to see a neurologist, otolaryngologist, or other medical specialist.
San Gabriel Valley
175 N. Pennsylvania Ave. Suite 4
Glendora, CA 91741
626.852.1TMJ (1865)
San Fernando Valley
2701 W. Alameda Ave. #606
Burbank, CA 91505
818.238.9TMJ (9865)