What is TMJ?

Do you hear a popping or grating sound when you open your mouth? Are you suffering from pain when trying to open your mouth or move it from side to side? If so, you may have Tempromandibular Joint pain or Tempromandibular Dysfunction, or TMJ (TMD) for short. Other common symptoms may include neck and shoulder pain, clenching or grinding your teeth during sleep, and ongoing headaches at your temples or above your eyes.

The temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to the temporal bones. It lets you move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn.

So, what causes TMJ (TMD)? It may be from an injury to your jaw or the muscles of your head, grinding your teeth, arthritis in the joint, jaw muscle clenching due to stress, etc. If you feel pain in your mouth jaw, visit our Doral dental clinic and talk to our specialists to learn if you are a candidate for TMJ therapy (TMD therapy).