How to Self-Diagnose your TMJ

TMJ Dysfunction is a widely misunderstood condition, and I hope this video will help a few people better understand what types of problems can be classified under this heading.
There are 3 broad diagnostic categories, and it will be helpful for you to understand what these are before you seek solutions for your problem.
If you want to learn more about TMJ Dysfunction and how to overcome it, check out my book on Amazon:
And check the App Store or Google Play in the coming weeks for my new TMJ Rehab App!!

[frimguy]

It's crazy how 99% of orthodontists and dentists dont acknowledge this, truly shameful of them

[NinoMaluri]

After 5 months of dental work, an ill fitting crown, and a bunch of small occlusion changes (checking occlusion with articulating paper and shaving down crowns a bit), I started having pain in the right side of my jaw, and clicking. The pain was terrible the first 2-3 days, and it got progressively smaller in intensity with each passing day. After about 30 days the pain was almost completely gone, but the clicking remained, and it became constant.

So here I am, over 1, 5 months later. I constantly have some tension in the right of my jaw, and a bit of pain comes and goes. Whenever I move my jaw to the right, it clicks. I went to a dentist and he said he'll do 5 crowns to fix my occlusion. I explained to him the jaw pain and clicking and how it happened, and he said I shouldn't worry about it, it will pass. I asked him if we should do an MRI or something to see what's going on in there, he said there's no need, I shouldn't worry about it, and it will pass.

Frankly, I'm terrified and I don't know what to do. From the moment I wake up until the moment I go to sleep, I keep thinking about this. I'm trying to eat only soft foods. I'm trying not to move my jaw to the right so that it doesn't click. But I have no plan on what to do further. There are no TMJ specialists in my country. There are maxillofacial surgeons, but, I doubt I would get actual up-to-date diagnosis and solution to my problem with any of them.

My TMJ problem has been in creation for about 5 months now, but it's been hurting/clicking for less than 2 months. If I could see a TMJ specialist, maybe steps could be taken to prevent the problem from escalating in the future, and maybe even reverse it. But I have no plan, and no hope. Total darkness :(

I still have some hope that whatever is going on will just pass. On the other hand, my future could involve arthritis of the jaw joint/s, surgeries, and total depressing darkness.

[jakec]

Amazing video...There really needs to be better provider education on TMJ disorders/dysfunctions.

In my experience, providers really lack knowledge on how to properly workup, diagnose, and treat this. TMJ issues are complex and better training for providers would greatly benefit many patients.

[NinoMaluri]

Can you please say exactly what kind of MRI a person should get to diagnose a potential TMJ problem? Please

[altheaattard]

Ii hear clicks while talking, at the end of the sentence, mostly with words with 't' or 'k' but not with 'no'. Is this TMJ?

[csell]

Hi Doc, say I have had some teeth removed / pulled and an implant put in for one of them. I believe that my bite is completely different. Is this something that could cause some or many of the symptoms you talk about in this video?

[franzpetit]

I think i forced too much my tmj while eating, .I never had the pop sound without having my fingers touching my ears but now I'm hearing a pop sound on my left ear when i'm chewing on the left side i thought it would've gone away by now but it's been 5 days and still the same, I'm not feeling any pain but you think i should be worried? this really bothers me. Ty doctor.

[charelsandy]

Thank you for the information. Very interesting that you mentioned a malocclusion can lead to internal derangement. I developed an open bite because of braces in only the upper teeth and since 2 years after its more open. I did an cbct and mri and nobody said that there is arthritis, is it possible that in the early development they dont see arthritis? I have slighty forward discs in both joint but not totally displaced. I want to close my bite with braces, would you recommend that to prevent further damage?

[jodiejackson]

When you said “some people do EXTRA stuff” with what I perceived as a bit of a winky face, I side eyed because don’t mention my s*x life online. 😂😭

[zakyvids]

Hi there, is there anyway to contact you via email. Also can TMJ cause forward falling dizziness too Thanks a lot

[martinblack]

Doctor doesn't mean Teacher. Doctor means an overpaid referral position. "Next patient please"

[timmycostello]

Don’t buy this guys book. Try DTR therapy. Disclusion Time reduction. Thank me later. This guy doesn’t have a clue and trusts what he was taught in whatever school that cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars. But it’s all to make money. No actual solution.

[TonypizzasMom-soqm]

What about pain in your ears, I went to ent they said my ear ache pain stabing pain is from tmj im going to tmj doc soon, also I had all top teeth removed a year ago but denture never fit right so never wore it, could that have caused this usually my ear ether one can feel full and a slight pain in it one or the other.. I was getting stabbing pains not anymore but still clogged feeling, they also said I have inner ear exema ???