The tempromandibular joint is a joint that sits just in front of the ear hole.  This joint normally allows the mouth to open and close smoothly.  A cartilage or meniscus sits between the lower jaw bone and the skull.  It's purpose is clearly to allow this smooth movement of the lower jaw bone.                     

The leading cause of tempromandibular joint disorders ( properly called TMD ) is direct trauma to the head, neck, face, jaws, and whiplash injuries from motor vehicle accidents (MVA's).

These injuries produce a variety of symptoms that can be often confusing to doctors due to a lack of understanding of the anatomical and physiological complexity or the injury.  TMD can easily be confused with migraine (vascular) or tension type of headaches, with sinusitis, or with an ear infection.  Fatigue and anxiety play a role in perpetuating the cycle of pain surrounding TMD.  Undiagnosed referred pain can also cloud the picture.

Some of the symptoms are as follows:

1.     Dizziness

2.     Light Headiness       

3.     Ringing in the Ears

4.     Clogged Ears

5.     Pain in the facial muscles

6.     Pain in the eyes or visual disturbances

7.     Difficulty in opening and closing the mouth

8.     Pain in the jaw joint

9.     Clicking of the jaw joint      

Treatment of TMJ

1. Conservative treatment involves the use of a splint or orthotic that is worn in the mouth.  This device allows the body to try to heal and adapt itself with the main goal being the elimination of pain.  Pain usually comes either from inside the joint itself, or more commonly from the muscles around the head and neck that are in spasm.  

2. Treatment may involve other professionals including a chiropractor and soft tissue therapist.       

3. In a small percentage of patients, more invasive treatment  involving the expertise of an oral surgeon could be necessary                                                                                                                            `                      A normal joints sits in the temporal fossa which is part of the skull.  The blue disk shown above has a muscle attached to the front of it and ligaments attached to the back of it. 

                                  In a TMJ problem, the disk is initially pulled forward and out of position by the muscle that is attached to it.  This causes the disk to pop or "click" when the person opens his or her mouth.

                                 
This stage is a late stage of the TMJ problem.  The disk gets crumpled up and sticks in front of the jaw.  Many times a person is not able to open the mouth very much.