Temporomandibular joint syndrome

Temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ syndrome) is a disorder of the jaw muscles and nerves caused by injury or inflammation to the temporomandibular joint. This joint is the connection between the jawbone and the skull. The injured or inflamed temporomandibular joint leads to pain with chewing, clicking, crackling, and popping of the jaw; swelling on the sides of the face; nerve inflammation; headaches; tooth grinding; and sometimes dislocation of the temporomandibular joint.

Causes

The exact cause of a person's TMJ syndrome is often difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of problems, such as arthritis or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth, but many people habitually clench their teeth and never develop TMJ syndrome.

In some cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ syndrome may be alleviated with self-managed care or non-surgical treatments. Severe TMJ syndrome may require surgical repair.

Symptoms

TMJ syndrome can cause pain in the jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement. Some common symptoms include:

• Pain or tenderness in the jaw
• Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
• Aching pain in and around the ear
• Difficulty chewing or discomfort while chewing
• Aching facial pain
• Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close the mouth

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of TMJ syndrome can be difficult because the exact symptoms and signs may be caused by a variety of conditions. A variety of tests can be performed to diagnose TMJ syndrome, including physical examinations, imaging tests, and laboratory tests.

Treatment

Treatment for TMJ syndrome depends on the severity of the symptoms and can range from self-care practices and physical therapy to injections, prescription medications, and in some cases, surgery. Options for treatment include medications, nonpharmacologic therapies, minimally invasive procedures, and surgery.

See also

• Temporomandibular joint
• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction
• Jaw clenching
• Bruxism

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External links

• Comprehensive information from the National Institute of health.
  

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Rheumatologic diseases

Arthritis is often used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Rheumatic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles. Rheumatologic diseases usually affect joints, tendons, ligaments, bones, and muscles.

Connective Tissue Diseases

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Gout	Juvenile arthritis
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Osteoarthritis	Polymyalgia rheumatica
Psoriatic arthritis	Reactive arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis	Scleroderma
Sjögren’s syndrome	Systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus)
Tendinitis	Rheumatologic diseases

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