CLINIC

ATM

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

The TMJ is the joint between the temporal bone (skull) and the mandible. In between these two bones there is a joint disk, similar to the meniscus found in the knee, which acts as a cushion between the two surfaces, preventing rubbing and facilitating movement.

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The term temporomandibular joint disorder is applied to those diseases that directly affect the joint surfaces involved, the disk, the musculature responsible for jaw movements, and the nerves that innervate the musculoskeletal system.

Many of the symptoms experienced by patients in relation to TMJ disorders are usually due to stress, poor occlusion (the relationship between the upper and lower teeth), or a combination of the two, though on occasions there may be symptoms whose origin is unclear.

The most frequent symptoms are: pain (locally or radiating to the head or the ear), noises when opening and closing the mouth, and inability to fully open the mouth.

The main treatments used for the temporomandibular joint are: mouthguards, drugs, occlusion treatments (adjustments to how the upper and lower teeth fit together), or a combination of all of them.

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