TMJ after wisdom tooth removal?

I had my wisdom teeth removed about 1 month ago and a few days ago, I awoke with pain in my left jaw joint. Since then, it hurts to open my mouth wide in the jaw joint and down under my jaw as well. I also have felt a little tingle in my face in that area when I open wide and hear a small click in my jaw. Does this sound like TMJ and could it be related to the surgery? Should I contact my oral surgeon or a dentist that specializes in this? I hope this pain is temporary because it is really annoying. I also had a dry socket/slow heal on that side, but it feels fine now. This seemed to come out of the blue! Anyone experience this? Thanks in advance!!

[Matthew Baron, D.M.D.]

The TMJ symptoms could be related to trauma from the surgery and is one of the risks involved with extraction of wisdom teeth.  You should have your dentist or the oral surgeon thoroughly examine you jaw joints.

[mike1105]

sory to be so indefinite, but it may be a sign of TMJ and it may or may not be related to the Wisdom teeth removal----- remember when those teeth are removed, your jaw is manipulated and stetched in unnatural ways to get them out. The muscles can easily go into spasm right after or a short time later.... It's odd that you were fine and then it started acting up after you are pretty much healed, but i guess it is possible. It's also possible that it is a coincidence and not related to the surgery. If it bothers you and is not getting better, I'd see a dentist who treats TMJ and have your situation evaluated.-- there is no such thing, officially, as a TMJ "specialist"