TMJ stands for "temporomandibular joint," or jaw joint. These are the small joints in front of each ear that attach the lower jaw to the skull, and happen to be the most complex joints in the entire body. The area of the face where the TMJ is located is an intricate network of bones, including the teeth, muscles, and nerves. Because of this, TMJ (dysfunction) conditions affect many areas of the body, from the top of the head in migraine-like headaches to numbness or tingling in the arms and pain in the neck or shoulders.

You can have TMJ disorder for a long time without realizing it. That's because some of the symptoms, such as worn teeth or headaches, may seem unrelated to your jaw joints and muscles. Is a TMJ disorder causing you problems? Begin to find out by asking yourself these questions.

• Are you aware of grinding or clenching your teeth?
• Do you wake up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws?
• Do you have frequent headaches or neck aches? Does the pain
• et worse when you clench your teeth?
• Does stress make your clenching and pain worse?
• Does your jaw click, pop, grate, catch, or lock when you open your outh?
• Is it difficult or painful to open your mouth, eat, or yawn?
• Have you ever injured your neck, head, or jaw?
• Have you had problems (such as arthritis) with other joints?
• Do you have teeth that no longer touch when you bite?
• Do your teeth meet differently from time to time?
• Is it hard to use your front teeth to bite or tear food?
• Are your teeth sensitive, loose, broken, or worn?

The more times you answer "yes," the more likely it is that you have a TMJ disorder. Understanding TMJ disorders will also help you understand how they're treated.

How do we deal with TMJ disorders? Night guard and splint appliances, occlusal equilibration – or the restoration of a balanced bite, orthodontics, and muscle relaxants are several remedies to alleviate TMJ dysfunction.