Frequently Asked Questions: TMJ
1. What is TMJ? TMD?
Answer: TMJ is the abbreviated term for your jaw joint, the TemporoMandibular Joint, which is located directly in front of either ear. TMJ stands for the joint where the mandible (lower jaw) hinges near the temple: T(temple) M(mandible) J(joint). A problem with this joint is called TMJ or TMD (TemporoMandibular Disorder).
2. What causes TMD?
Answer: A disorder of the temporomandibular joint may be caused by a single traumatic event. For example, a sports injury when protective mouth guards are not used; direct accidental trauma to the jaw; indirect over-extension of the jaw, which is a common occurrence in rear-end automobile collisions; as well as other injuries that might sprain the jaw joint such as utilizing normal chewing force while eating spaghetti and unknowingly biting into something hard which may stretch and tear TMJ ligaments.
It may also be caused slowly by many small micro traumas that build up and result in deterioration of the joint: i.e., malocclusion (a bad bite), grinding or gnashing of teeth, heredity, diet, harmful habits such as nail-biting or chewing on ice, and many other repetitive small injuries that accumulate over the years creating pathology in the joint.
3. Is TMJ Hereditary?
Answer: Some patients have lax ligaments in all of their joints; knees, elbows, wrists, ankles, etc. These people are more prone to disorders of any joint, including the TMJ. The dysfunction of the joint(s) may be hereditary in the gene for a pronathic lower jaw (like Jay Leno or Patrick Ewing) runs in the family, since the bite with that type of jaw may not be normal. Retrognathic (too small lower jaw) are more commonly assoicated with TMD. To bite into an apple with a normal upper but abnormal small lower jaw, the patient must excessively jut forward the mandible causing osteoarthritic and degenerative pathology in TMJ. But not all unusually large or small lower jaws end up with TMD. Most jaw joint dysfunctions are inflicted by what we do to the joint or the environment our joints function in.
4. Is TMD a permanent dysfunction?
Answer: TMD is a permanent affliction. Loose ligaments have lost their ability to keep the joint stable and will always remain loose. That does not mean that the pain will be permanent. It simply means that the problem may come back easier than before TMD was diagnosed. If you could gnaw on a pork chop bone as a child, you should forever avoid doing so later if you have TMD.
5. Is there anything I can do to prevent TMD from coming back?
Answer: Avoid any activity that will move the jaw abnormally. Remember, once you have the problem, it will always be with you. So to prevent the reoccurrence of pain, never lean your chin on your hand and avoid phone cradling…the jaw shifts too far sideways when forced these ways. Let hard candies and ice melt in your mouth, do not bite into them. When getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist, take a break every few minutes. Do not hold your mouth open wide for the entire time. Support your lower jaw with your hands as the dentist or hygienist works on you. Then, massage your chewing muscles before stiffness sets in. Watch your posture. Looking down for hours to type at work will tense up the neck muscles and pull the jaw backwards, hurting both your neck and your TMJ areas. A simple rule is, if it hurts….don’t do it.
6. Can children get TMD?
Answer: Yes, but it is not as common. Children can withstand physical punishment more than adults. An injury may result in the surfacing of TMD pain years later, whereas an adult may feel pain a week or so after an injury. The reasons are totally different. An adult may sprain the jaw joint and begin to have pain days, weeks, or months later as the jaw muscles get tired of constantly keeping the TMJ structures away from the slight swelling within the joint. A child may sprain the jaw joint without much pain and the result could be the growth development and balancing of the jaws becoming abnormal. TMJ pain may surface many years later.