Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

The temporomandibular joint acts like a sliding hinge between your jaw bone and your skull. There are multiple causes for the pain you might experience like clenching or grinding your teeth (often in your sleep), arthritis or after any dental work. The symptoms include pain / tenderness over your jaw or it presents with ear pain, feeling of blocked ears and tinnitus (this is why ENT surgeons often deal with this problem).

The ENT surgeons will make the diagnosis and then refer you to a dentist, maxillofacial surgeon, physiotherapist or chiropractor etc. Treatment can include pain medication or muscle relaxant, a custom made bite plate by the dentist, treatment of the underlying cause and possibly physiotherapy for pain relief.