Your temporomandibular joint is the hinge connecting your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear. It lets you move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn.

Problems with your jaw and the muscles in your face that control it are known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

What Causes TMD?

There are many factros thought to comtribute to TMD, and often it requires a details history to try and determine the most likely cause. Essentally, we believe symptoms arise from problems with the muscles of your jaw and or with the parts of the joint itself not working together as optimally as they should.

Injury to your jaw, the joint, or muscles of your head and neck ( e.g. from a heavy blow or whiplash) can lead to TMD. Other causes include:

• Grinding or clenching your teeth
• Movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint
• Arthritis in the joint
• Stress, which can cause you to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth

What Are the Symptoms?

TMD often causes severe pain and discomfort. It can be temporary or last many years. It might affect one or both sides of your face. More women than men have it, and it’s most common among people between the ages of 20 and 40.

Common symptoms include:

• Pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouthwide
• Problems when you try to open your mouth wide
• Jaws that get "stuck" or "lock" in the open- or closed-mouth position
• Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth or chew. This may or may not be painful.
• A tired feeling in your face
• Trouble chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite, feels like the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
• Swelling on the side of your face
• Headaches
• Earchaes and dizziness

You may also have toothaches, headaches, neck aches, dizziness,earaches, hearing problems, upper shoulder pain, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

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