Injury to the temporomandibular joint
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Injury to the temporomandibular joint
Injury to the temporomandibular (TM) joint 
most commonly occurs when too much stress is placed on the joint by:
- Chewing hard or chewy foods.
- Bruxism (grinding or clenching the teeth) over a period of time.
- Dental procedures that require the jaw to be held open too wide for a long time.
These stressors can cause the articular disc to shift out of its normal position (disc displacement). Because this disc cushions the joint between the jawbone (mandible) and the skull, displacement can result in pain and locking of the joint.
A blow to the jaw, TM joint dislocation, or jaw fracture can also result in TM disorder symptoms.
Credits
| Author | Monica Rhodes |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry |
| Last Updated | January 24, 2008 |
| Last updated: | January 24, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Monica Rhodes |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Arden Christen, DDS, MSD, MA, FACD - Dentistry |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC |
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