TMJ is the joint; TMD describes disorders
The temporomandibular joints connect the jaw to the skull. Temporomandibular disorders can affect these joints or the chewing muscles. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, limited opening or painful clicking. Clicking without pain is common and does not necessarily require treatment. Dental and other causes of facial pain should be considered.
What an assessment may involve
A dentist or doctor can help establish the diagnosis and rule out other causes. Tell your clinician about painful chewing, locking, injury, tooth symptoms and clenching. If musculoskeletal care is appropriate, assessment may include jaw and neck movement with consent and within the practitioner’s scope.
Care and rehabilitation
Conservative options may include education and individually selected exercises, coordinated with dental care. Evidence for many TMD treatments is limited, so discuss expected benefits, risks and alternatives. Osteopathy is not a replacement for dental treatment, and permanent changes to the bite should not be offered as a routine solution.
Questions to bring
Ask whether your symptoms require a dentist or GP first, what the proposed treatment is intended to achieve, and when the plan will be reviewed. You can book a discussion without committing to a course of treatment.
When to seek medical help
Seek urgent medical or dental advice for facial swelling with fever, trauma, inability to open or close the jaw, or difficulty swallowing. Jaw pain with chest pressure, sweating or breathlessness can be a medical emergency: call 000.
Related information
Further reading
General information from Muscle Joint Bone Epping. Your clinician will discuss how it applies to you.