TMD is usually diagnosed when your doctor listens to your
description of symptoms and performs a thorough physical exam. A
careful physical exam may be completely normal despite symptoms,
or may reveal: - Jaw or muscle tenderness - Muscle spasm in the
area of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) - Clicking, popping,
or grating sounds and sensations when you open or close your jaw
- Misalignment of the jaw or of the bite - Difficulty fully
opening the mouth There are no specific tests available that can
definitively diagnose TMD. If your symptoms are extreme, your
healthcare provider may try the following: - Jaw x-ray
—Unfortunately, these aren’t usually helpful in diagnosing TMD.
An x-ray may sometimes reveal problems, such as fractures or
dislocations, and is commonly used to exclude other conditions
that might mimic TMD. - Arthrography—This is a test in which dye
is injected into a joint in order to better visualize it on an
x-ray. It’s rarely ordered for diagnosing TMD, although it can
be helpful in situation