TMD is a painful condition of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints (the joint at the back of the head and neck), and nerves that control chewing, swallowing, and speech. Symptoms may include pain or tenderness in the face, jaw, shoulder, and/or neck; limited mouth movement; earaches; and headaches. Sometimes, the symptoms come and go, while other times they become chronic or worsen over time. TMD can be caused by a variety of things, such as teeth grinding (bruxism), arthritis, injury to the head or neck, a bad bite, or a misaligned jaw disc. In addition, certain medical conditions such as fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome can cause or aggravate TMD.

TMD: What It Is and How to Manage Your Symptoms

TMD can be treated with a variety of methods depending on the severity of symptoms. Treatment options include resting the temporomandibular joint, physical therapy, medicine, behavior changes, and an orthopedic appliance or mouthguard. In some cases, surgery is necessary.

We will review your child’s dental and medical history before making a diagnosis and starting treatment. If needed, we will order radiographic tests such as a CT scan of the head and neck. This test uses X-ray equipment and powerful computers to create detailed, cross-sectional images of your child’s jaw and neck muscles and joints. These images will be used to help your doctor diagnose and treat the TMD. We will also ask your child about his symptoms and what makes them better or worse. We will also want to know if your child’s symptoms are related to stress, anxiety, or depression.