What Is TMJ?

January 9, 2023. 3 min read

Every time you talk, yawn and chew, you’re using your TMJs. The TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint), is the joint on each side of the head at the base of the skull. It connects your lower jaw to your skull. The TMJ is composed of a rounded protrusion of the mandible that sits against an indentation in the skull, and a disc-like structure made of a soft bone called cartilage found in between the two bones (articular disc).

What is TMJ Pain?

Pain with your TMJ can hurt your jaw and radiate to your neck, face, and head. Unlike other body joints, like your knees, TMJ pain is hard to treat with anti-inflammatory drugs alone. You may need to alternate ice and heat therapy as well.

What Causes TMJ Pain?

Like any other joint in your body, your TMJ can be fractured. Grinding and clenching your teeth can cause TMJ pain. When you have issues and chronic TMJ pain, chances are you may have TMD.

What is TMD?

Suppose you're having a problem with your jaw, your Jaw joint (TMJ), and facial muscles. In that case, you may have TMD (Temporomandibular Disorder). There are many signs and symptoms of TMD. Here are some of the most common ones:

Pain in the face, jaw, or ear area
Headaches (often mimicking migraines), earaches, and pain and pressure behind the eyes
A clicking or popping sound when opening or closing the mouth
jaw that "gets stuck," locked or goes out of place
Tenderness of the jaw muscles
Swelling of the face

What Causes TMD?

Here are some issues that can cause TMD:

Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis inflammation
Overstress from missing permanent chewing teeth
Chronic Pain due to bruxing (grinding and clenching teeth in your sleep)
A history of jaw injury
Specific progressive middle ear or bone diseases

If you think you have TMD, talk to your dental professional. They will do an assessment examining how your jaw joints move, check your teeth and facial muscles for Tenderness as well as signs of teeth grinding and clenching. They may do further tests, including x-rays.

How To Treat TMJ Pain And TMD

Only your dental professional will be able to diagnose and prescribe a treatment that's right for you. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research determined that experts recommend the most conservative, reversible treatments possible for TMJ disorders due to insufficient studies on safety and effectiveness. Here are some treatment options that your dental professional may consider:

Wearing a night guard to reduce grinding and clenching
Over-the-counter pain-relievers or anti-inflammatory medications
Relaxation techniques to help control muscle tension in your jaw
Although rare, surgery is sometimes required to correct TMJ problems

If the traditional methods have failed, these are some more aggressive treatment options to consider:

Short-term treatment of TMJ discomfort is through the use of reversible splinting options
Bite splints - these can be worn at night or throughout the day, depending on the condition's severity
Low-level laser stimulation
injections to relax the jaw
Surgical bite reconstruction

Severe jaw pain can interfere with your quality of life. If you're having TMJ issues, and are experiencing problems with grinding your teeth, jaw pain, or some of the others described in this article, talk to your dental professional. The earlier you treat the problem, the quicker you can get back to enjoying life pain-free.

This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.