Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge,
connecting jawbone to skull. TMJ disorders can cause pain in jaw joint and in
the muscles that control jaw movement. The exact cause of a person's TMJ disorder is often
difficult to determine. Pain may be due to a combination of problems, such as
arthritis or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or
grind their teeth, but many people habitually clench their teeth and never
develop TMJ disorders.
Symptoms
of TMJ disorders:
·
Pain of jaw
·
Aching pain in and around ear
·
Difficulty chewing or discomfort
while chewing
·
Aching facial pain
·
Locking of the joint (difficult
to open or close your mouth)
The
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) combines a hinge action with sliding motions. The
parts of the bones that interact in the joint are covered with cartilage and
are separated by a small shock-absorbing disk, which normally keeps the
movement smooth.
Painful
TMJ disorders can occur if:
·
The disk erodes
or moves out of its proper alignment
·
The joint's
cartilage is damaged by arthritis
·
The joint is
damaged by a blow or other impact
One of
the non-pharmaceutical treatments for TMJ disorder is Bite guards.
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