Temporomandibular disorders, also known as temporomandibular dysfunctions (TMD), are a group of diseases that affect the joint in front of the ear (called temporomandibular joint, TMJ) and/or the masticatory muscles. These can present a great variety of signs and symptoms: pain in the region of the joint, in front of the ear, in the neck, temples, head and/or face; muscle fatigue; difficulty when opening or closing the mouth; deviations of the jaw during opening or closing and presence of noises in the joint. There is usually no single cause for the onset of this disorder since several factors may be involved, such as: the way the teeth fit together, an accident or trauma, continuous presence of deep pain, parafunctional habits such as teeth grinding/clenching and even presence of emotional stress. There are several types of approach to treat temporomandibular disorders, depending on each case. It is always necessary to carry out a careful evaluation and eventual diagnostic tests in order to select the best treatment plan for each case.

If you have any of these symptoms and suspect you may suffer from temporomandibular disorder, schedule an appointment with one of our Occlusion specialized dentists or contact us.