Temporomandibular Joint Dysfucntion

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Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), refers to a group of conditions that affect the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. The TMJ is the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull, allowing for movements such as chewing, talking, and yawning. TMJ dysfunction can result from various factors, including jaw injury, misalignment of the teeth or jaw, arthritis, excessive teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism), stress, or muscle tension.

Symptoms of TMJ dysfunction can vary but often include jaw pain or tenderness, difficulty or discomfort when chewing or opening the mouth, clicking or popping sounds when moving the jaw, earaches, headaches, facial pain, and locking of the jaw joint.