TMJ Help Site

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a problem in the jaw, jaw joints, and surrounding muscles that causes the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to stop functioning properly. The result can be severe pain, chronic headaches, earaches, limited mouth movement, even neck and shoulder pain. TMD is a serious condition; one that can interfere with basic functionality, leads to extreme pain, and interfere with your ability to enjoy life.

TMD can create over-activity in your jaw that can have an adverse affect on your ear canal. This over-activity can lead to tinnitus, an intermediate or constant ringing in the ears that can be moderate to severe. Often called “phantom noise”, tinnitus can cause disruptions in everyday tasks like listening to music, engaging in conversation, and hearing your children call.

Symptoms of Tinnitus

Tinnitus can be a clear indication of a larger problem like TMD. Symptoms may be singular, or combine with other symptoms of TMD like vertigo, nausea, headaches, or limited mouth movement. Tinnitus can also be a symptom of a number of other disorders. Ringing in the ears that is constant or even intermittent over the course of a few days should be promptly reported to a qualified medical professional. The earlier you can detect and treat TMD, the more potential problems you can avoid.

Fortunately, TMD is treatable by realigning and stabilizing the jaw into it’s natural position. Common procedures include:

An experienced dentist will best be able to determine what most suits your needs.