Exams and Tests - TMJ Diagnosis

TMJ pain and symptoms may require evaluation by more than one medical specialty, such as your primary care provider, a dentist, or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor, depending on your symptoms. Some dentists specialize in TMJ diagnosis and treatment.

A thorough examination may involve:

* Feeling the joint and connecting muscles for tenderness
* Watching, feeling, and listening to the jaw open and shut
* Sliding the teeth from side to side
* Pressing around the head for areas that are sensitive or painful
* X-rays which may show abnormalities, but can be difficult to read
* An MRI of the jaw area may occasionally be performed
* A dental examination may show mis-alignment of the bite (crossbite, malocclusion)

In some cases, the results of the physical examination may appear normal.