BAY RIDGE BROOKLYN, NY DENTIST

What is the Temporomandibular Joint?

There are two temporomandibular joints that connect the left and right sides of the lower jaw to the temporal bone. Both joints and their associated muscles, ligaments, and tendons work together to allow for all manner of oral functions as the jaw moves up and down, front to back, and from side to side. Containing a shock-absorbing, soft disc that sits between the rounded condyles of both sides of the lower jaw and the corresponding concavities in the skull’s temporal bone, the TMJ makes chewing, speaking, yawning, and all jaw movements possible.
Since the TMJ is a joint with both up and down hinge-like movements, as well as side-to-side and front-to-back sliding motions to perform, it is often considered one of the most complicated joints in the body and one of the most difficult to treat when problems arise.

Types and Symptoms of TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders can fall into one or more of the following three categories:
● Myofascial pain- Refers to pain in the area of the jaw joint due to various causes of increased muscle tension and spasms.
● Internal derangement- Involves disc displacement, jaw dislocation, or trauma to the condyles of the jaw.
● Degenerative joint disease -Arthritis.
The risk for developing a TMJ problem is greater in the presence of long-term teeth grinding or bruxism, a jaw injury or various types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, the manifestations of a TMJ disorder can vary from person to person with a wide range of symptoms possible, including earaches, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), headaches, back and neck pain, vertigo, muscle spasms and joint tenderness as well as jaw pain, popping or grating sounds with jaw movement, jaw locking and limited jaw movement. For some people, a TMJ disorder can be resolved within a relatively short period of time, while for others, it will continue to persist despite extensive therapy.