Temporomandibular disorders

[Justin Bieber]

The temporomandibular joints are the connections between the temporal bones of the skull and the lower jawbone (mandible). There are two temporomandibular joints, one on each side of the face just in front of the ears. Ligaments, tendons, and muscles support the joints and are responsible for jaw movement.

Temporomandibular disorders are caused by problems with the jaw muscles or joints or the fibrous tissue connecting them.
People may have headaches and tenderness of the chewing muscles or may hear clicking/popping sounds of the joints in the jaw.
Doctors or dentists can usually diagnose these disorders by doing a history and physical examination, but sometimes an imaging test is needed.
Treatment usually involves self-help and doctor-directed measures, oral appliance (splint) therapy, and pain relief.

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complicated joints in the body: It opens and closes like a hinge and slides forward, downward, backward, and from side to side. During chewing, it may sustain an enormous amount of pressure depending on the position and health of the upper and lower teeth, which act much like a doorstop for the joints during closing. The temporomandibular joint contains a piece of dense fibrous tissue called the articular disk. The disk serves as a cushion between the skull and the lower jawbone, keeping them from rubbing against each other.
Temporomandibular disorders, previously called TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, are most common among women in their early 20s and those between the ages of 40 and 50. In rare cases, infants are born with temporomandibular joint abnormalities. Temporomandibular disorders include problems with the joints, the muscles, and the bands of fibrous tissue that connect them (fascia).
Dislocation of the jaw, which is a dental emergency, is characterized by a wide-open mouth and pain that makes it difficult to return to a closed-mouth (teeth together) position.