What is TMJ exactly?

TMJ is actually an acronym for temporomandibular joint

, the joint connecting the mandible (lower jaw) and the temporal bone (near the ear) but is widely used as short for the ailment of that joint and its surrounding muscles called temporomandibular joint disorder. If one has TMJ (the disorder), cosmetic dentistry may be of little help but services from general dentistry would suffice.

This joint's function is to coordinate the movements of the jaw hence temporomandibular joint disorder (or simply TMJ from here on) will cause pain when chewing, talking and yawning but sometimes even when the jaw is at rest.

Symptoms not only include pain in the face area, neck and shoulders, but also ear pains or ringing, clicking sound when moving the joint, headache resembling that of a migraine, nausea, insomnia, and locking of the jaw. Some dental signs are crossbites, crowded teeth, deep overbite, tooth sensitivity, and gum line tooth erosion.

TMJ may either be due to one's genetics or acquired through some activities. Eating hard food, biting hard objects, frequent yawning or any other activity that involves prolonged opening of the mouth may contribute to TMJ.

One of the possible reasons for having TMJ is malocclusion or misaligned teeth. If one is experiencing the symptoms, heading to a cosmetic dentistry clinic right away may not be a good idea. Cosmetic dentistry may provide dental procedure for correcting misaligned teeth but TMJ treatment must be done only by an expert who has experience on this disorder since several other factors may contribute to having the disorder. TMJ may also be due to loss of molars, head or jaw trauma, asymmetrical body mechanics, and even scoliosis and arthritis.

One must have a thorough medical examination before proceeding to what dental procedure to take. TMJ exam includes tracking of the jaw's range and movement. Craniocervical, postural, and neurological examinations may also be done to pinpoint the exact cause of the TMJ and hence come out with the best treatment.

Most cases can be treated with orthodontic procedures and just a few needs to undergo surgical treatment. Other treatment includes using of dental appliances, wearing mouth guard, or having occlusal equilibration performed by a cosmetic dentistry specialist.

What is TMJ exactly?

By: Dr J Basrai

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