Page "Temporomandibular joint disorder" Paragraph 21

Due to the proximity of the ear to the temporomandibular joint, TMJ pain can often be confused with ear pain.

The pain may be referred in around half of all patients and experienced as otalgia ( earache ).

Conversely, TMD is an important possible cause of secondary otalgia.

Treatment of TMD may then significantly reduce symptoms of otalgia and tinnitus, as well as atypical facial pain.

Despite some of these findings, some researchers question whether TMD therapy can reduce symptoms in the ear, and there is currently an ongoing debate to settle the controversy.