CAN TMJ CAUSE TINNITUS?

Temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ, can create several life-altering side effects. Patients sometimes report having tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, in conjunction with their TMJ. So, what’s the connection?

Because your ears and jaw are in such close proximity to each other, doctors believe TMJ can cause tinnitus in the following ways:

• Chewing muscles are closely situated near the inner ear muscles: If your jaw muscles are fatigued from overexertion, neighboring muscles will begin to compensate. This will then stimulate the nerves associated with your inner ear, resulting in a ringing sound.
• There is a connection between jaw ligaments and the middle ear: When you have TMJ, the ligaments in your jaw become strained. Because they are connected to the bones in your middle ear that help interpret sound, ringing may be a result.
• Nerves associated with the jaw are also involved in hearing: When the nerves involved in normal jaw function become stressed due to TMJ, they can become over stimulated. Ultimately, this will cause ringing in the ears.

Keep in mind that there are many different medical conditions that can cause tinnitus. However, TMJ may be the source of the ringing in your ears if you’ve ever experienced any of the following issues:

• Trauma to teeth or jaw
• Misalignment of the jaw
• Teeth grinding
• Poor posture
• Arthritis

To fully determine if your tinnitus is caused by TMJ, Drs. Chin and Pharar will meet with you in person to discuss your symptoms and dental care goals. Together, we will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to minimize your symptoms and treat your TMJ disorder.

If you are in the Summerlin area and would like to discuss your TMJ treatment options, give our office a call at (702) 445-7075 to schedule your initial consultation.