The temporomandibular joint is a part of the jawbone, the mandible, that represents the superior point of the jaw. It inserts into a socket in the temporal portion of the skull, hence the temporo- prefix for the joint’s name. This joint has a special articular disc, found in the synovium or fluid of many regular joints, that gives the jaw multidimensional freedom. With this multidimensional movement, a person can move his or her jaw with rotational or translational movement. This enables a person to open his or her mouth, chew, and grind food. This joint is one of the few human joints that can regularly dislocate and reduce itself into the joint without any pain or abnormalities.
A condition called temporomandibular joint disorder, sometimes known simply as TMJ, is characterized by many symptoms, but the most common ones include:
-dull pain in the joint area when chewing or opening the mouth; by far the most common complaint
-biting or chewing difficulty
-popping or clicking sounds when chewing
-earache or ear pain
-neck and shoulder pain
-reduced jaw mobility
The causes of TMJ are many, and sometimes there may not be one specific cause of the joint pain. The most common causes include
-dysfunction in the mastication, or chewing, muscles
-bruxism (grinding teeth at night)
-excessive chewing from gum or nail biting
The treatment for TMJ can vary because several medical practitioners can legitimately treat this condition. The most common and first-line medication treatment is using an over the counter analgesic, like ibuprofen. Actual narcotics are not recommended. Sometimes, splints and EMG biofeedback at night may be used to monitor bruxism and control excess jaw moving at night. Occasionally, a dental cause for TMJ can be treated with replacement of teeth or crowns. Surgery is generally reserved for refractory treatment after conservative and noninvasive measures have been tried.