Among the most common, irritating, and difficult-to-diagnose problems with head and neck pain are temporal mandibular joint problems, more commonly known as TMJ problems. The joint is near the ear, where the top of the mandible or lower jaw meets the upper jaw at the base of the skull.
Like all other joints in the body, the TMJ is subject to inflammation and other chronic joint problems. These issues may be caused by destructive bite habits like clenching or grinding. These actions cause pressure on the joint, leading to inflammation and the general breakdown of the joint itself.
Woman in pink dental bib receiving dental examination in modern dental office.
What makes TMJ problems difficult to diagnose and treat properly is that the symptoms vary widely in location and severity. Symptoms can range from a slight clicking in the jaw with no pain to severe head and neck pain not relieved by medication.
Once diagnosed properly, treatments include simple placement of a nightguard, which prevents pressure on the joint, to surgical intervention in more severe cases. A dental health professional is a person most able to diagnose this widely variable and very common issue.