JAW PAIN

Ask the Following Questions:

1. Are there abnormalities on examination of the teeth or gums? A thorough examination of the teeth and gums may disclose dental caries, gingivitis, oral tumors, or alveolar abscess.
2. Is the pain intermittent? Intermittent pain should suggest a trigeminal neuralgia or glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
3. Is there a rash? The presence of a rash would suggest herpes zoster. Be sure to examine the eardrum for Ramsay Hunt's syndrome.

DIAGNOSTIC WORKUP

Routine diagnostic studies include a CBC, sedimentation rate, chemistry panel, arthritis panel, and an x-ray of the teeth and jaw. X-ray of the sinuses may be helpful. At this point referral to a dentist or oral surgeon should be made if there is still diagnostic difficulty. He may order an MRI of the temporomandibular joint, which is the procedure of choice in evaluating this joint. If all tests are negative or equivocal, perhaps a psychiatric referral is in order.

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins
• Year of Publication: 2003
• Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2003 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Trismus

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Trismus:

Copyright Details: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Trismus

• Back to symptom: Trismus: Introduction (review 46 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Trismus: TRISMUS (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Trismus

More About This Book: Title: Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs Authors: R. Douglas Collins Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 0-7817-3805-9

 » Next page: TRISMUS (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• TRISMUS (Algorithmic Diagnosis of Symptoms and Signs)
• Jaw Pain/Swelling (In a Page: Signs and Symptoms)
• Jaw pain (Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
• Muscle spasms [Muscle cramps] (Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
• Abdominal rigidity [Abdominal muscle spasm, involuntary guarding] (Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City