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$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.