What Are TMJ Disorders?

Disorders and discomfort of the jaw joint and chewing muscles fall into the category of TMJ or temporomandibular joint disorders.


According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research,
NIDCR, researchers generally agree that TMJ discorders fall into three main categories:

• - Myofascial pain, the most common temporomandibular disorder, involves discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jaw function.

• - Internal derangement of the joint involves a displaced disc, dislocated jaw, or injury to the condyle.

• - Arthritis refers to a group of degenerative/inflammatory joint disorders that can affect the tempromandibular joint.

A large group of disorders that cause pain, inflammation, and stiffness in the joints, muscles, and bone fall into the large group of rheumatic disease. Rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, may cause TMJ disorders as a secondary condition. The exact relationship between rheumatoid arthritis and TMJ disorders is not known, except both may involve inflammation of the tissues that line the joints.

Most of the common jaw joint muscle problems are temporary and never get worse and some self-care practices, such as, eating soft foods, applying ice packs, and avoiding extreme jaw movements (such as wide yawning, loud singing, and gum chewing), learning techniques for relaxing and reducing stress, and practicing gentle jaw stretching and relaxing exercises that may help increase jaw movement.

If you are suffering from TMJ symptoms, and If you would like to learn how to cure your TMJ disorder permanently ... without drugs, without oral surgery, without any typical TMJ treatments, and without any side effects, then you need to        Click Here!

Some other techniques are over-the-counter pain medicines, such as ibuprofen or an oral appliance, also called a stabilization splint or bite guard, which may relieve the pain and be appropriate for your condition. There are some irreversible treatments that have not been proven to be effective and may make the problem worse; such as orthodontics to change the bite; crown and bridge work to balance the bite; grinding down teeth to bring the bite into balance, called "occlusal adjustment"; and repositioning splints, also called orthotics, which permanently alter the bite.

Surgical procedures that invade the tissues are controversial, often irreversible, and should be avoided where possible. There have been no long-term clinical trials to study the safety and effectiveness of surgical treatments for TMJ disorders. Replacement of jaw joints with artificial implants my cause severe pain and permanent jaw damage.

Take the TMJ test from the American Dental Association to see how much you know about TMJ.    Click Here!

The FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration monitors the safety and effectiveness of medical devices implanted in the body, including artificial jaw joint implants. Simple, self-care practices are generally the best way to ease pain in the jaw joint and chewing muscles.

RECOMMENDED READING