My ent has referred me to a dentist for tmj . what exactly is the dentist going to do ?

Help: Depends on what's causing your joint dysfunction. What your dentist will do is first help you feel better, then try to resolve the cause of your joint malfunction. Go see the dentist and listen carefully to the solutions presented for your individual problem.

Evaluate the Jaws: Tmj disorders are known as "the great impostor" as the signs and symptoms related to this syndrome mimic many other maladies. By definition, a syndrome cannot be diagnosed by performing any one specific test, only by completion of a comprehensive exam and then correlating the results of the findings to known symptoms. Your jaw joints, the teeth and how they relate to one another and your muscle.

Depends: Depends on symptoms, and cause of symptoms. 3 signs of TMJ dysfunction: joint noises, joint pain ; limited oral opening. Self treat with soft diet, jaw exercises, massage, heat/cold, otc pain meds. A splint or physical therapy would be next. Occasionally muscle relaxants, biofeedback. Xrays are done for diagnosis. Surgery usually reserved for serious symptoms not responsive to other treatments.

TMJ-Dentist: The most common causes of TMJ pain/disfuction are bruxism (chronic teeth grinding and/or clenching) and a bad bite. Another cause is injury to the jaw or face. Symptoms include chronic headaches, migraines, pain in or near the ear, pain on opening, limited opening, noise in the tmj, painful teeth, worn or fractured teeth and fillings. A dentist will evaluate the causes and suggest treatment.