TMJ Pain or Clicking
TMJ Dysfunction
Your jaw bone is held in place by the attachment of muscles and ligaments to your temporal bone, which is the bone above your ear. The joint that is formed by these two bones is called the Temporomandibular Joint or TMJ for short.
TMJ Dysfunction is a fairly common disorder that affects about 70% of the population. However, only about 60% of these develop disability problems. The majority of TMJ dysfunction patients are 20-30 years of age and are female. Patients usually experience a locking, clicking or pain sensation in the jaw joint while chewing or talking. Sometimes a loud snap can be heard while yawning. Tenderness over the muscles surrounding the jaw and recurrent headaches are other signs of TMJ.
There are many causes of TMJ disorder. Grinding your teeth either as a nervous habit or done while sleeping can irritate TMJ. Excessive or uncoordinated gum chewing may also cause complications. Furthermore, long telephone conversations or resting your chin in the palm of your hand while reading or sleeping may gradually induce microtrauma to the TMJ area.
The blood circulation to the skin, pain fibers, muscle and internal tissues of the neck and head is very strongly influenced by the proper alignment of the TMJ. Misalignment, or subluxation, of the TMJ can affect the blood flow, muscle tension, spinal balance and proper working of the nervous system. This can result in many symptoms and ultimately disease, unless the misalignment is corrected. Your chiropractor is trained in the examination and correction of TMJ.