What is TMJ and TMD?

TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint, otherwise known as the jaw, whereas TMD is short for temporomandibular disorder.

How do I know if I have TMD?

TMD can present as pain in the jaw, face, head, teeth or ear/s. It can also present as impaired jaw mobility as well as clicking and/or grinding with jaw movements.

What causes TMD?

TMD can be due to dysfunctional bite, a direct traumatic injury, stress, repetitive oral habits such as grinding (bruxism), mouth breathing, nail biting and thumb sucking in children and can also be caused by poor posture. Furthermore TMD has often been associated with people who have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, tinnitus, depression or sleep disorders.

Who should I see if I suspect I have TMD?

It is recommended that you see your dentist first to check that the pain is not directly related to the teeth.

If the teeth have been ruled out as the cause, then you may benefit from seeing an osteopath.
An osteopath is an allied health professional who can assess and diagnose musculoskeletal conditions. Osteopaths can check the movement of the TMJ, feel and listen for clicking and grinding as well as feel for tight muscles around the face, jaw and neck. Osteopaths use manual therapy techniques such as soft tissue massage, joint articulation or mobilisation, muscle energy techniques and/ or high velocity low amplitude techniques to treat the mechanical dysfunction. An osteopath can also prescribe stretches and exercises to help manage the dysfunction at home.

What other things can I do at home to help?

If the cause of your TMD is from muscle dysfunction, a warm compress applied over the tight or painful areas can help to release the muscles and ease pain. If the TMD is due to repetitive oral habits or stress, then learning to avoid those habits is best, as well as practising mindfulness. A dentist may also make a splint for you to wear if you have night time bruxism.  If conservative management doesn’t help then there are other options that you can discuss with your GP.

 

References

  1. Konstantinia Almpani, Huy Tran, Anna Ferri, Man Hung,Assessment of condylar anatomy and degenerative changes in temporomandibular joint disorders – A scoping review,Journal of Oral Biology and Craniofacial Research,Volume 13, Issue 6,2023,Pages 764-780,ISSN 2212-4268,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobcr.2023.10.004.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212426823001203)
  2. Yin, Y., He, S., Xu, J. et al. The neuro-pathophysiology of temporomandibular disorders-related pain: a systematic review of structural and functional MRI studies. J Headache Pain 21, 78 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-020-01131-4
  3. Baeshen HA. Malocclusion trait and the parafunctional effect among young female school students. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2021 Jan;28(1):1088-1092. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.11.028. Epub 2020 Nov 11. PMID: 33424403; PMCID: PMC7783814.
  4. Maini K, Dua A. Temporomandibular Syndrome. [Updated 2023 Jan 30]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551612/