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Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome is a jaw joint disorder that can result in severe, chronic and debilitating pain for some people while other people will only experience occasional or temporary pain. To better understand what this syndrome, it is important to understand some basic human anatomy. For starters there are two temporomandibular jaw joints, one in front of each ear and they connect the lower jaw (mandible) to the bone at the side of the head (temporal bone). The joint has muscles to allow the jaw to open and close which makes it flexible and capable of both sliding action and hinging action. It is this flexibility that allows a person to perform certain functions such as yawning, talking, making facial expressions and chewing food. It is the same ability however that makes the temporomandibular joint of the most complicated joints in the body. Because the temporomandibular joint is so complicated and it has such a wide spectrum of symptoms, it has been hard for researchers to pinpoint exactly how it appears in some patients while not in others. TMJ has been known to sporadically worsen and then ease over time with no known reasons why. Most patients will only have mild versions of this disorder that may disappear spontaneously within weeks or months while other patients will have long term, persistent and debilitating pain. Although the causes are still being investigated, injuries that cause trauma to the jaw such as a dislocated disc or a dislocated jaw have been known to cause this condition. While trauma is one known cause there are still many other misconceptions that exist to try and explain how TMJ strikes. Some common misconceptions that still persist include the belief that this is caused by jaw clicking, tooth grinding, a bad bite or even braces. However none of these conditions have been scientifically proven in research studies. The most common symptoms for patients who suffer from this condition will be to experience pain in the jaw muscles and lower jaw when chewing. Other common symptoms include; radiating pain in the face, jaw or neck, stiffness in the jaw muscle, and limited movement or a locking jaw. Some symptoms have been confused with causing the disorder instead of being its symptoms, such as a clicking or popping in the jaw or a change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together. Since TMJ can present with such a wide spectrum of symptoms with various levels of pain and duration, it has been difficult to fully understand and solve this mysterious condition. Currently it is recommend that patients who believe they may suffer from TMJ to remain under the care of a doctor to monitor their condition and to work with them to develop a treatment plan for the pain. For residents of st louis tmj syndrome is now treated by professionals who know the solutions for your joint. You can rid yourself of pain and embarrassment and live a secure life. To know more, visit http://www.tmjrelief.net/
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