• Pain or tenderness of your jaw 
• Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints 

• Aching pain in and around your ear 
• Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing 
• Aching facial pain 
• Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth 

TMJ disorders can also cause a clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew. But if there's no pain or limitation of movement associated with your jaw clicking, you probably don't need treatment for a TMJ disorder. 

Dr. Yamaguchi will discuss your symptoms and examine your jaw.  

She will: 

• Listen to and feel your jaw when you open and close your mouth 
• Observe the range of motion in your jaw 
• Press on areas around your jaw to identify sites of pain or discomfort 

If Dr. Yamaguchi suspects a problem, you may need: 

• Dental X-rays to examine your teeth and jaw 
• CT scan to provide detailed images of the bones involved in the joint 
• MRI to reveal problems with the joint's disk or surrounding soft tissue 

TMJ arthroscopy is sometimes used in the diagnosis of a TMJ disorder. During TMJ arthroscopy, a small thin tube (cannula) is inserted into the joint space, and a small camera (arthroscope) is then inserted to view the area and to help determine a diagnosis. 

In some cases, the symptoms of TMJ disorders may go away without treatment. If your symptoms persist, we may recommend a variety of treatment options, often more than one to be done at the same time. 

Bite guards are the most widely recommended treatment for moderate TMJ symptoms. Research has found that splints can reduce TMJ pain and the risk of long-term side effects is minimal. There are two main types of dental splint, a TMJ mouthguard, and a bruxism (tooth grinding) mouthguard.