Temporomandibular Joint
The temporomandibular joint is a specialized hinge structure near the ear that allows the mouth to open and close and coordinates chewing. The joint consists of a “ball”, known as the condyle, located on the lower jaw and the “socket”, known as the fossa, on each side of the skull. In between the two bone surfaces a cartilage “disc” acts as a shock absorber to allow a smooth, gliding action for the joint. The disc is held in place against the back of the joint by ligaments and connective tissue containing blood vessels and nerves. Muscle groups attach directly to the bones to align, stabilize and control jaw function. TMD, which stands for temporomandibular joint disorder, is a chronic degenerative disease that may take years to develop or could develop suddenly. TMD affects millions of people.
Common, through not exclusive, causes for TMD include:
- Lost or mal-aligned teeth
- Overbite
- Degenerative arthritis
- Various head or neck injuries
- Clenching (bruxism) or grinding teeth
If you suffer from chronic headaches, restricted or locked opening and closing mechanism, neck aches, earaches, shoulder and back pain, and the cause of these symptoms has not been found, you should call our office for an appointment so we can determine if you have TMD. There are treatment options available. Dr. Eckart and his team want to help minimize your pain and improve your jaw function.