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What is TMJ Syndrome, Anyway?

The first symptom you may notice is that you can't eat a Big Mac anymore; it's just too big for your mouth.

Or you have a headache and your shoulders are stiff; the pain fluctuates from bothersome to excruciating.

Or chewing gum becomes torture, and you find yourself ordering soup and yogurt.

These are some of the signs of a TMJ disorder.

The term is a catchall for a variety of disorders relating to the temporomandibular joint-or TMJ-of the jaw.

The TMJ, which lies just in front of the ears, is a complex system of bone, cartilage, muscle and nerve that when working properly gives the jaw tremendous versatility and strength.

When the joint is abused by teeth grinding, injured by a blow to the jaw or head, or weakened by age, jaw pain can result. Stress, trauma, a bad bite, or arthritis can strain the jaw beyond design.

Dentists are more familiar today than in previous generations with the symptoms: jaw clicking, jaw popping, migraine, headache and the causes and treatments for the complex disorders.

A more stressful society is also taking its physical toll. The most dramatic research shows one in five Americans suffer from some degree of TMJ disorder. More conservative estimates put the number at one in 10.

However, many of those cases only may reveal themselves through a rather benign clicking or popping in the jaw.

In turn, the treatments prescribed by TMJ treatment clinics range from counseling and psychological therapy to splints and, in severe cases, surgery.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Facial Pain: Could It Be TMJ Disorder?

Facial pain and jaw pain can be the result of a range of health problems. If the patient has a sore jaw, a TMJ diagnosis is particularly likely. TMJ disorders are jaw problems caused by swelling deep within the jaw joint.

But before seeking treatment for temporomandibular disorder from a TMJ specialist, you need to know if TMJ dysfunction is the cause of your facial pain - and that involves ruling out other possibilities.

Face pain can be a result of dental problems such as an infection or an abscessed tooth, or it can result from jaw alignment problems. Dental treatment, sometimes including orthodontics, can relieve tooth pain.

Pain in the face can also be the result of sinusitis or sinus infection. When it comes to the head and face, where you feel the pain may not actually be the source. Jaw trouble can lead to headaches, or a tooth abscess may masquerade as jaw pain.

Oh, and getting hit in the face can definitely lead to facial pain!

If it's not any of these, it might well be TMJ disorder. The other diagnosis to consider is trigeminal neuralgia, an alarmingly painful nerve problem that leads to the sensation of sharp pain in the face, even with the smallest stimulus. Treatments are available, but the condition is commonly considered one of the most painful that exist.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.