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For You
Summary
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to the side of your head. When it works well, it enables you to talk, chew, and yawn. For people with TMJ dysfunction, problems with the joint and muscles around it may cause :
- Pain that travels through the face, jaw, or neck
- Stiff jaw muscles
- Limited movement or locking of the jaw
- Painful clicking or popping in the jaw
- A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together
Jaw pain may go away with little or no treatment. Treatment may include simple things you can do yourself, such as eating soft foods or applying ice packs. It may also include pain medicines or devices to insert in your mouth. In very rare cases, you might need surgery.
NIH: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
Diagnosis and Tests
- Panoramic Dental X-Ray (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
- Tooth Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Less Is Often Best in Treating TMD (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
- Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD) Devices (Food and Drug Administration)
Videos and Tutorials
- Normal TMJ in Motion (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: The relationship between pregnancy and temporomandibular disorder (TMD) through diagnostic criteria...
- Article: The effectiveness of botulinum toxin for temporomandibular disorders: A systematic review...
- Article: Comparative study of clinical and MRI features of TMD patients with...
- Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction -- see more articles
Children
- TMJ Disorders (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders) (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research) Also in Spanish
- TMJ disorders (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish