TMJ Symptoms Erie, PA

As you can see, these symptoms affect multiple areas of the body. They might also not seem connected and might be explained by one or several conditions. However, the connection between these symptoms is clear if you understand the condition and the anatomy involved.

Jaw pain is the most common symptom reported in TMJ. Three types of jaw pain are common in TMJ:

• Muscle pain
• Joint pain
• Adjacent or referred pain

When you have TMJ, your jaw is in an uncomfortable position that can keep your muscles tense. This makes your muscles sore. Muscle soreness in TMJ is common, and it’s linked to other TMJ symptoms, such as neck and back pain. When jaw muscles are under stress, they can pass their stress to the muscles they partner with, such as those in the head and neck. The stress can get handed on further into the shoulders and upper back.

Joint pain in TMJ often stems from a displaced cushioning disc. When this disc is out of place, tissues can get pinched between the bones, or the bones themselves might grind. A displaced disc is often the cause of joint sounds like popping and clicking, and it’s associated with irregular or limited jaw movements.

Other times, the jaw pain you feel isn’t in the jaw. For example, you might have toothaches related to tooth damage that you might mistake for jaw pain. The mistake might be in your brain. In referred pain, you can feel pain someplace other than the true source of the pain.

Headaches are also common in TMJ. Many TMJ-related headaches are tension headaches that might be linked to jaw pain. The jaw muscles stretch up to attach at the side of the head around the level of the eyes–the temples. Headaches here are jaw pain. Other muscles might be sore because they are partnered with jaw muscles.

Migraines are more complicated. One key trigger point for migraines is the trigeminal nerve, which controls the jaw muscles. If jaw muscle tension and pain overwhelm the trigeminal nerve, it can create a cascade effect that triggers migraines.

The ear is not simply close to the jaw; it shares several close functional links. Jaw muscles are linked to the tiny muscles in the ears, so when there’s a dysfunction in the large muscles, it can easily disrupt the small muscles of the ears. These disruptions can lead to ringing in the ears, a feeling of fullness, earaches, and more.

There is an upside to the diverse symptoms of TMJ: TMJ treatment can reduce or eliminate all your symptoms, no matter how diverse. Our Erie, PA dentist will analyze your jaw position to help you find the position that promotes healthy function and rest. Then, he will fit you with an oral appliance that holds your jaw in that position, relieving your symptoms.

For a TMJ evaluation at Tucker Dental Excellence, please call (814) 836-7777 or use our online form today to request an appointment at our Erie, PA, dental office.