As the signs and symptoms of TMD match various other disorders, patient evaluation starts with thorough oral and physical examination. The dentist also takes a complete health history of the patient.
A dentist does the following oral examination in case of any suspicion of TMD:
- Check jaw for pain or tenderness by palpating extra auricular area.
- Listen for clicks, pops, or grating sounds while patient moves the jaw.
- Evaluate the proper working of the jaw by placing small finger intra-auricularly.
- Observe the range of motion of the jaw.
- Extra-oral examination for facial symmetry, postural imbalances, nasal deviation, etc.
- Intra-oral for malocclusions, missing teeth, faulty dentures, tongue position, etc.
After thorough oral examination, the following diagnostic tests may be done for confirmed diagnosis of TMD:
- Radiographs of jaws, temporomandibular joints and teeth:-
1. Lateral Cephalogram to for airway patency and jaw placement.
2. OPG to look for the status of teeth.
3. TMJ View (left and right, open and close).
- MRI to find if the TMJ disc is in the proper position during jaw movement as it provides images of the disc as well as the muscles and other soft tissues surrounding the joint.