TMJ DISORDERS

MUSCLE (MYOFASCIAL) DISORDERS

These involve the muscles controlling the jaw, which may cause pain, tenderness, and restricted movement.

  •  Myofascial Pain: The most common form of TMD, involving pain or discomfort in the muscles responsible for moving the jaw.

  • Bruxism (Teeth Grinding or Clenching): Can lead to muscle fatigue and pain in the jaw and surrounding structures.

  • Myositis: Inflammation of the jaw muscles, leading to pain and difficulty opening the mouth.

  • Muscle Spasm: Involuntary contractions of the jaw muscles, leading to stiffness and pain.

JOINT DISORDERS

These involve issues within the temporomandibular joint itself, including the disc and other structures.

  • Disc Displacement with Reduction: The disc within the joint moves out of its normal position but returns to the proper place during jaw movement, often causing a clicking or popping sound.

  • Disc Displacement without Reduction: The disc does not return to its normal position, which may lead to limited mouth opening (also called “closed lock”).

  • Osteoarthritis: Degenerative joint disease leading to the breakdown of cartilage within the TMJ, causing pain, stiffness, and crepitus (crackling or grating sounds).

  • Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune condition where the body attacks the joint lining, leading to inflammation, swelling, pain, and potential joint deformity in the TMJ.

  • Subluxation: Partial dislocation of the jaw joint, where the jaw may feel unstable or out of place.

  • Joint Hyper/Hypomobility: Abnormally increased or decreased movement in the TMJ due to joint laxity or stiffness.

  • TMJ Synovitis/ Capsulitis: Inflammation of the joint lining (synovitis) or the joint capsule (capsulitis), causing pain and tenderness.