$Unique_ID{BRK04257} $Pretitle{} $Title{Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)} $Subject{Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) Impostor Disease Pain-Dysfunction Syndrome Myofascial Pain-Dysfunction Syndrome Costes Syndrome Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome TMJ Rheumatoid Arthritis Tinnitus Tetanus } $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1986, 1988, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 296: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible that the main title of the article (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms Impostor Disease Pain-Dysfunction Syndrome Myofascial Pain-Dysfunction Syndrome Costes Syndrome Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome TMJ Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report: Rheumatoid Arthritis Tinnitus Tetanus General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) is a painful disorder of the jaw joint which is made worse during or after eating or yawning. It can cause limited jaw movement and clicks and pops during chewing. In severe cases pain can radiate into the neck, shoulders and back. Symptoms TMJ Dysfunction is characterized by painful jaw movement. The pain may also involve the eyes, ears, teeth, head, neck, shoulders and back. Sometimes there is ringing in the ears (tinnitus), dizziness and loss of equilibrium. Difficulties of movement in the jaw can result in swallowing and chewing problems. About eighty-five percent of patients feel pain on only one side usually in the temple, cheek, and front of the ear. The pain may be constant or come and go. Causes There are many causes of TMJ Dysfunction. Organic or systemic causes include benign or malignant tumors, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Functional causes include jaw displacement, breakdown of the support provided by the teeth, injury from accident or most commonly grinding of the teeth (bruxism). The following are the most common causes of TMJ Dysfunction: Myofascial Pain Dysfunction (MPD) Syndrome affects the chewing muscles. Muscle spasms, often caused by grinding the teeth, create facial pain that may spread to nearby muscles. Disturbances in the joint's functioning, the most common of which is disk displacement due to stretching or tearing of the fibrous tissue attaching it to the joint capsule. Injury problems such as jawbone dislocation from a blow during a car accident or fall. The jaw joint can be dislocated without force from outside the body, from strained opening of the mouth, for example. Degenerative Joint Disease (Osteoarthrosis) in which fibrous and cartilage-like tissues wear away from the jaw joint . This alters movement and creates a crackling sound when the jaw moves. Inflammatory Joint Disorders occur when membranes on the sides of the disk become inflamed due to rheumatoid arthritis. Chronic restricted jaw movement such as fibrous ankylosis, occurs when fibrous tissue forms in the joint reducing jaw movement. Left untreated it can "freeze" the jaw. Joint growth disorders cause the jawbone to continue to enlarge after growth should have stopped. This causes the bite and joint movements to become abnormal. Affected Population TMJ Dysfunction is a very common condition of adulthood which affects females three times more often than males. It is most common in women ages fifteen to forty-four. Related Disorders Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of TMJ. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis: Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease of unknown origin which may have a relationship to autoimmune processes. This disorder is characterized by lack of appetite (anorexia), tiredness, painful and deformed joints, early morning stiffness chiefly in the hands, knees, feet, jaw, and spine. Once affected, a patient's joints remain painful or uncomfortable for weeks, months, or even years. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Arthritis " as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Tinnitus is the perception of sound such as a ringing in the ears, in the absence of an actual sound. The disorder may be caused by a variety of ear problems including obstruction, infections, Meniere's disease, certain medications and head injuries. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Tinnitus " as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Tetanus is an infectious disease marked by painful muscular contractions caused by the toxin tetanospasmin, acting upon the central nervous system. Tetanus can cause "Lockjaw" which freezes the jaw into a locked position. Therapies: Standard Treatment of TMJ Dysfunction varies according to the patients needs. It may consist of plastic bite plates to reposition or relax the jaw and muscles and reduce pressure on teeth and jaw joints. If TMJ is caused by grinding of the teeth these plastic devices often alleviate the problem. Some people wear the bite plates at night when grinding of the teeth cannot be consciously avoided. Treatment of muscle spasms may include relaxant drugs such as diazepam and analgesics for pain. Physical therapy, splints, permanent jaw adjustments or corrective dental work are also sometimes necessary. Therapies: Investigational Surgery is rarely used to correct TMJ Dysfunction. This disease entry is based upon medical information available through October 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 The TMJ Association, Ltd. 6418 W. Washington Blvd. Wauwatosa, WI 53213 (414) 259-9334 TMJ Booklet American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 1101 Vermont Ave., NW, Suite 302 Washington, DC 20005 NIH/National Institute of Dental Research 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 496-4261 References TM DISORDERS; ACHES AND PAINS FROM FLAWS IN THE JAWS. D. Farley, FDA Consumer (June, 1988 issue). Pp. 6-10. INCIDENCE AND CHARACTERIZATIONS OF TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT SOUNDS IN ADULTS. S. D. Vincent, et al.; J Am Dent Assoc (February, 1988, issue 116 (2)). Pp. 203-206. CERVICAL EXTENSION-FLEXION INJURY (WHIPLASH) AND INTERNAL DERANGEMENT OF THE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT. S. Weinberg, et al.; J Oral Maxillofac Surg. (August, 1987, issue 45 (8)). Pp. 653-656. THE ACOUSTICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORMAL AND ABNORMAL TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT. T. Gay, et al.; J Oral Maxillofac Surg (May, 1987, issue 45 (5)). Pp. 397-407.