What is TMJ?
Just what is TMJ? "TMJ" stands for "Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome." Another term commonly used is "TMD", which stands for "Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction."
The temporomandibular joints are complex hinge joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull. If you've been told, "You have TMJ", that means you have a problem with your jaw joints and the surrounding muscles in your head, neck, and jaw.
TMJ causes pain that ranges from mild to severe. The pain is usually felt in the jaw joint and associated muscles. Frequently, pain is also felt in the face, head, teeth, eyes, ears, neck and shoulders. TMJ is a degenerative disease. Left untreated, mild functional problems may result in permanent changes such as arthritis and tissue damage.
Approximately 20% of the overall population suffers from TMJ. About 90% of sufferers are women. More women than men suffer from TMJ, although experts do not know why. TMJ has proven to be difficult to diagnose and treat; there is no single discipline associated with TMJ. Often, patients will visit multiple clinicians during the diagnosis phase alone. Millions of dollars are spent each year on tests and treatments, frequently out of the patient's own pocket. Click here to order.
The most common symptoms of TMJ include:
- Pain in and around the jaws, face, ears, eyes, teeth, head, neck, and shoulders
- Muscle pain, spasms, and/or tenderness in the face, ears, eyes, teeth, neck, head, and shoulders
- Many types of headaches
- Pain in the sinuses and behind the eyes
- Painful pressure in the ears that may cause earaches and/or ringing in the ears
- Clicking and popping in the jaw joints
- Clenching the jaw and grinding the teeth
- Jaw locking in open and closed positions
- Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
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If you'd like to learn more about TMJ, we recommend you read: Taking Control of TMJ: Your Total Wellness Program for Recovery from Temporomandibular Joint Pain, Whiplash, Fibromyalgia, and Related Disorders by Robert O. Uppgaard, D.D.S. You may find information about his book in our Recommended TMJ Resources section.
