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The temporomandibular joint
is the joint of the jaw and is frequently referred to as
TMJ. There are two TMJs, one on each side, working in
unison.
TMJ acts like a sliding
hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. TMJ
disorders can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the
muscles that control jaw movement.
The exact cause of a
person's TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine.
Your pain may be due to a combination of problems, such
as arthritis or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw
pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth, but many
people habitually clench their teeth and never develop
TMJ disorders.
In most cases, the pain and
discomfort associated with TMJ disorders can be
alleviated with self-managed care or nonsurgical
treatments. Severe TMJ disorders may require surgical
repair.
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