Temporal
Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder
What is TMJ disorders?
Temporal Mandibular Disorder affects the joint where your
skull meets your lower jaw. Stress, grinding, poor posture
or injury can cause the joint to become misaligned. You may
hear clicking sounds or have pain, stiffness, or a locked
jaw. The TMJ joint is a sliding ball and socket joint. When
you open and close your mouth, muscles contract and relax.
A cushioning disc allows the skull and lower jawbone to glide
smoothly. Ligaments connect the bones and keep the joint stable.
When the muscles tighten, the skull and lower jaw are pulled
closer together. This puts pressure on the joint, compressing
the disc. An injury, such as a whiplash, can stretch or tear
ligaments, which in turn pull the disc out of position. Arthritis
is a degeneration of the joint, often resulting from an injury.
The disc wears away, leaving the bones rubbing against and
irritating the nerves. Problems with the neck can also lead
to TMJ.
What can a chiropractor do? Physical, orthopedic and neurological
tests can help reveal the condition of your jaw and upper
cervical spine. Your chiropractor gently touches and moves
your jaw to check for tenderness, pain, and restricted range
of motion. The chiropractor gently touches and moves your
jaw to check for tenderness, pain and restricted range of
motion. He then can gently manipulate and massage the area
to bring total relief and correct the problem.
