Ear Problems

Often a physician or ENT specialist will be chasing the pain without any evidence of a problem in the ear. If you have ear symptoms that are not resolved, the problem could very well be TMJ. Some of the symptoms that can result from TMJ dysfunction are:

Tinnitus

Ringing and/or a roaring noise in the ears can be the result of several factors. Exposure to very loud noise, clogging of the external auditory canal by ear wax, swelling or inflammation of the ear drum or an overdose of aspirin can all cause Tinnitus. However, a large number of cases are misdiagnosed and are really the result of TMJ caused by unnoticeable muscle spasm resulting from a "bad bite". The jaw mechanism is a complex network of vessels, muscles and nerves. When the bite is out of alignment, the muscles, nerves and vessels of the ears can be affected. Tinnitus is the result of irritation of the bones in the ear by certain ligaments and other muscles. In addition, the medial pterygoid muscle, the primary jaw positioning muscle which goes into spasm in someone with bite problems, can trigger this irritation.
 
If the cause of your tinnitus is an unstable bite, a specially trained dentist can realign your bite so the jaws work together, with less muscle tension. This will relieve the ringing in the ears that was caused by the unstable bite.

Ear Pain

Usually when someone has an earache, they think it is the result of an infection. If their doctor can't find anything wrong, there is a good chance that it is the result of TMJ. Because the muscles that are associated with the ear are primarily innervated by the same nerve as the jaws,  when someone has a "bad bite" it can cause some of these muscles to spasm which can result in ear pain. TMJ often manifests itself by unexplained ear pain.

Ear congestion

The Eustachian tube is a tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose. Its primary job is to regulate the pressure in the middle ear. The Eustachian tube's secondary purpose is to rid the middle ear space of any fluid, infection or debris. Several small muscles located in the back of the throat and palate control the opening and closing of the tube. Swallowing and yawning cause contraction of these muscles, and help to regulate Eustachian tube function.

The Eustachian tube is normally closed to prevent contamination of the middle ear. A common problem is a failure of the Eustachian tube to regulate pressure effectively. Partial or complete blockage of the Eustachian tube can cause popping, clicking, and ear fullness. This blockage can result from swelling and inflammation associated with an ear infection. It can also occur when the muscle controlling the Eustachian tube goes into spasm. When the jaws are out of alignment, the muscles have to compensate for the malocclusion. This can lead to muscle spasm and resulting in partial blockage of the tube. By correcting the bite we can often resolve the congestion.

Vertigo

Vertigo, otherwise known as dizziness, is usually the result of a disturbance in the inner ear. It can occur as a result of arthritis in the neck, migraines, or poor circulation. As noted elsewhere, migraines and poor circulation to the blood vessels can both be the result of a misaligned bite. Correcting the malocclusion can often improve vertigo.