They include local joint pain, ear ache, headache, noises and pain when you chew, and various associated muscle pains. The ability to open the mouth wide may be limited. Ordinary chewing of food may be difficult.
Treatment is to get a good occlusion or bite.
Problem is I see patients with the most perfect bite possible with TMJ, and see patients with terrible occlusion without TMJ symptoms. In other patients I feel that it is the muscle imbalance that is of paramount importance. Correcting the bite may take care of the problem, using mirror biofeedback may also relieve the condition. In TMJ, the person opens his mouth to the side, not in the midline. There may be a noise called crepitus.