Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)

Temporomandibular disorder is a collective term for diseases, pains and dysfunctions of the temporomandibular joints, masticatory muscles, teeth and the nearby tissues.

Temporomandibular disorder or TMD is a collective term for diseases, pains and dysfunctions of the temporomandibular joints, masticatory muscles, teeth and the nearby tissues. TMD stands for temporomandibular disorder.

Typical symptoms of temporomandibular disorder include:

• pain, tension or tightness in the masticatory muscles
• pain in the jaw joints
• difficulty and problems opening the mouth
• uneven movement of the jaw and noises such as clicking or popping
• pain in the mouth and teeth, around the face and ears
• headache, especially in the morning
• neck symptoms, such as pain and a tingling sensation in the throat or hoarseness

Jaw pain is quite common. Jaw pain occurs when the joints on both sides of the jaw are damaged or strained.

The most common cause of jaw pain is temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Jaw pain can be caused by grinding of the teeth at night or malocclusion.

Ideally, the treatment of temporomandibular disorders involves multidisciplinary teamwork with dentists, dental hygienists, physicians and physiotherapists. The best results are usually achieved with a combination of different forms of treatment, as the symptoms of temporomandibular disorder often have many causes.