What is TMJ Disorder?

TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint, encompasses a range of issues affecting the teeth, muscles, ligaments, and bones within the skull’s joints. These problems disrupt the proper movement of your jaw. Primary causes of TMJ disorders include facial and jaw trauma, teeth clenching, grinding, tooth loss, as well as stress-related factors like anxiety and depression. The symptoms of TMJ disorders are diverse, with manifestations ranging from head pain to sensations of muscle weakness in the arms and legs.

Common TMD and Facial Pain symptoms include:

1. Morning headaches
2. Neck pain
3. Soreness in the jaw muscles
4. Pain in or around the ears, temples, or cheeks, often extending to the face
5. Audible clicking, popping, or grating sounds when opening or closing the mouth
6. Pain or difficulty while chewing, yawning, or opening the mouth widely
7. Occasional jaw “locking” or being unable to fully open or close
8. Regularly feeling stiffness, fatigue, or tightness in the jaw
9. Unexplained toothaches
10. Ear pain in the absence of infection
11. Dizziness