A Simple Guide on What is Tmj
When people talk about things that are discussed a lot or about conditions and situations that involve words that are hard to pronounce, they usually use initials as a stand-in for the real words. This is especially common when it comes to talking about diseases or medical conditions. One example of this is when people talk about the temporomandibular joint. Rather than saying the whole word every time they talk about it, they usually just say "TMJ."
What is TMJ? What problems does a person face when they suffer from TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint is a ball and socket joint. It is located on both sides of your face and it is responsible for moving your jaw. Whenever you open or close your mouth (or move your lower jaw in a side-to-side), you are using the TMJ. Both parts of the joint (the ball and the socket) are cartilage-covered and are separated by a small sized disk. This disk is there to absorb a small amount of the shock that comes from using your TMJ and it helps with the joint's free form movement.
Usually the TMJ will work without you having to worry much about it. Every once in a while, however, some people encounter severe problems when the joint fails to work correctly. Between five and fifteen percent of the population has problems with their TMJ at least once in his or her life. While a lot of the problems that most people experience aren't severe, there are some people who have to deal with extreme problems when the TMJ fails to work correctly.
One of the most prolific problems with the temporomandibular joint is a clicking sound. While this isn't considered severe or even classified as a real disorder it happens because the termporomandibular joint isn't working correctly. Other intense problems that happen with TMJ are jaws that are not aligned correctly or an overly worked joint that has been worn down because its owner has been grinding his or her teeth or has a habit of chewing on pens or pencils. Problems with the TMJ can also cause uneven bites. Uneven bites can induce intense headaches or jaw aches with pain that radiates up into the ear area. These problems make eating incredibly uncomfortable and your jaw might hurt even when it is still.
If you are having problems with your TMJ, your dentist or physician can probably help you treat your problems. Often your dentist will refer you to an orthodontist because many of the problems associated with TMJ result from teeth that don't line up correctly or inappropriate biting or clenching habits. While some problems are small and can be dealt with simply and matter of factly, other problems are more severe and will require extended dental and medical treatments.
Related Tags: health, dental, medical, tmj, bruxism, teeth grinding, what is tmj
You can find out more about What Is TMJ as well as much more information on everything to do with TMJ, Teeth Grinding and Bruxism at http://www.TMJandTeethGrinding.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Aesthetic and Implant Dental Specialists
Dentistry is developing and so are the sub-specialties that DDS's work within. As consumers becom - Zip...zap...zoom! Tooth Whitening in One Hour
Years of bad habits (cigarette smoking, tobacco use) and indulgence in certain beverages (soda, ju - Complete Your Smile With Dental Implants
If something is missing from your smile, you can fill in the gaps with a safe, effective and afford - Symptoms of Tmd
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) occurs when the joint connecting your upper and lower jaw go - Get Rid of the Mercury and Smile
In the past, dentists used an amalgam type of material to fill cavities in teeth. This consisted of - Periodontal Treatment for Gum Disease
About 30 to 50% of all Americans suffer from periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is gum disea - What is Dental Bonding?
The dental bonding procedure utilizes a tooth-colored, naturally-looking resin (a durable plastic) - Teeth Around the World
Bharat Book.com is glad to promote a new report, Global Dental/Dentistry Devices Industry Report: D - How to Get Rid of Bad Breath in Easy Ways
Bad breath is also known as halitosis. It may be caused due to a variety of reasons. Before looking - Tmd Diagnosis
TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is diagnosed and treated by a neuromuscular dentist. It has
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Aesthetic and Implant Dental Specialists
Dentistry is developing and so are the sub-specialties that DDS's work within. As consumers becom - Zip...zap...zoom! Tooth Whitening in One Hour
Years of bad habits (cigarette smoking, tobacco use) and indulgence in certain beverages (soda, ju - Complete Your Smile With Dental Implants
If something is missing from your smile, you can fill in the gaps with a safe, effective and afford - Symptoms of Tmd
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) occurs when the joint connecting your upper and lower jaw go - Get Rid of the Mercury and Smile
In the past, dentists used an amalgam type of material to fill cavities in teeth. This consisted of - Periodontal Treatment for Gum Disease
About 30 to 50% of all Americans suffer from periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is gum disea - What is Dental Bonding?
The dental bonding procedure utilizes a tooth-colored, naturally-looking resin (a durable plastic) - Teeth Around the World
Bharat Book.com is glad to promote a new report, Global Dental/Dentistry Devices Industry Report: D - How to Get Rid of Bad Breath in Easy Ways
Bad breath is also known as halitosis. It may be caused due to a variety of reasons. Before looking - Tmd Diagnosis
TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is diagnosed and treated by a neuromuscular dentist. It has