Typically, diseases do not begin with dramatic symptoms. They begin with small, unnoticable changes that we often ignore under the name of stress or work. Similarly, TMJ Disorder or TMJ Pain does not start with a locked jaw or severe pain.
It starts with small, gradual changes in the way the disc, condyle and surrounding muscles are functioning together.
The progression can look like this:
Clicking, Headaches, jaw pain, ear pain or muscle discomfort
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Disc displacement begins
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More prominent jaw clicking and popping develops
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Disc displacement without reduction
The disc may become displaced without returning to its normal position during movement.
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Locking and restricted jaw movement
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Progressive changes within the joint
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Degenerative changes / osteoarthritis
This entire process may start with symptoms that don’t seem serious enough to warrant attention. Like, a headache that comes and goes or a little jaw pain that settles on its own; or simply a painless click.
Because these symptoms may not interfere with your everyday life, they are easy to dismiss. But, this is where early assessment can make a difference.
If the jaw is assessed when symptoms are still mild or intermittent, we have an opportunity to understand what is happening, identify contributing factors and determine whether the condition needs active treatment or monitoring.
Even when a patient presents with locking, disc displacement or degenerative changes, there are treatment options available at different stages. But the earlier a patient is diagnosed, the faster we can intervene, address the underlying factors and work towards preventing further deterioration, potentially giving us a better prognosis.
So if you have been experiencing headaches or jaw pain that keep coming back, ear-area pain, jaw stiffness, or a new painless click, don’t dismiss them for being simple stress related symptoms. TMJ disorder can start with your muscles and can progress to your disc and joint related structures, all of which can be avoided by paying attention to these symptoms.
Your jaw may be giving you a warning long before it becomes a major problem.