Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include:

•  Jaw Pain or Jaw stiffness / tightness / Fatigue

•  Earache 

• Difficulty or discomfort while chewing 

• Pain radiating to the  head, face or neck

• Jaw Clicking (Painful / non painful)

•  Catching or locking of the jaw, making it difficult to open or close your mouth 

•  Headache  (commonly affecting the temples)

• Bite changes

• Tooth sensitivity

Patients may present with multiple signs or symptoms, however it is not uncommon for patients to present with a single sign or symptom. A common example is the patient who presents with an earache (caused by referred pain from the TMJ). Typically the patient will attend their medical doctor first. They may even complete a course of antibiotics but generally this have no significant effect on the TMJ. It is therefore imperative to rule out the possibility of a TMJ disorder if a patient suffers from recurrent ear pain and the ENT exam is normal.