Temporomandibular disorders

• Jaw pain 
• Jaw dysfunction 
• Clicking or popping sound while opening or closing the mouth 
• Earache 
• Headache 
• Facial pain 
• Neck pain 
• Dizziness 

Visit a General Practice doctor if you have any of these symptoms for proper diagnosis and treatment, he may refer you to a Dentist if needed 

Many factors may cause this condition such as:  

• Teeth grinding 
• Stress 
• Articular disc displacement 
• Trauma “Jaw injury” 
• Arthritis 

The diagnosis largely depends on medical history and physical examination, but other tools can be used such as: 

• Panoramic x-ray (imaging using x-ray to show all teeth and jaw joints). 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (a device that uses magnetic fields is used to get an image of the muscles, ligaments, and cartilage). 
• Cone-beam computed tomography (a scan in which thousands of images are taken to produce 3-dimensional images of teeth, jaw, and facial bones). 

In most cases, this condition resolves spontaneously without treatment, but other cases need treatment such as: 

• Conservative therapy: the patient is educated to deal with the condition by eating soft food, adding warm compresses on painful areas, and resting the jaw. 
• Behavioral therapy: Making behavioral changes to relieve stress. 
• Medications:  
• NSAIDS (ex: Naproxen) 
• Antidepressant (ex: Amitriptyline) 
• Anticonvulsants (ex: Diazepam, Clonazepam, Gabapentin) 
• Muscle relaxants (ex: Orphenadrine, Metaxalone) 
• Physical therapy: special exercises and devices are used to stretch and strengthen the jaw muscles. 
• Devices: to prevent teeth grinding. 
• Surgery: different types of surgeries can be done if other options did not work.