Shopping Cart
Your Cart is Empty
Quantity:
Subtotal
Taxes
Shipping
Total
There was an error with PayPalClick here to try again
CelebrateThank you for your business!You should be receiving an order confirmation from Paypal shortly.Exit Shopping Cart

Chaparral Village Dental & Orthodontics

27287 Nicolas Road Suite 104, Temecula, CA 92591

951-676-7200

Office blog

Blog

« Back to Blog « Older Entry | Newer Entry »

What is TMJ?

Posted on October 14, 2011 at 3:51 PM
TMJ is the abbreviation of Temporo-mandibular Joint, which is the joint that connects the jawbone to the skull. Every human has one of these joints on each side of the head, somewhere around the ear. Anything that you do to move your jaw requires these joints to function properly. That means you can’t eat, talk, or even smile and frown without functioning TMJ. Place your fingers in front of or inside the ear canals, try opening and closing your mouth to detect the movement of TMJ.

TMJ is a “loose-fitting”, rotating and sliding joint with a fibrocartilage covered, football shaped ball (condyle), fibrous pad (disc), fibrocartilage lined socket (fossa), ligaments, tendons, blood vessels and nerves. The disc functions as a moving shock absorber and stabilizer between the condyle and fossa.  As the jaw opens, normally the condyle first rotates and then slides forward within the fossa with the disc between the condyle and the fossa. In normal, healthy joint, the condyle is positioned in the front lower portion of the fossa and the dis moves forward and backward together with the condyle. The area behind the condyle and in front of the ear is full of blood vessels and nerve terminals, which causes TMJ pains when compressed by a condyle that moves too far back during mouth closing. 

The muscles of mastication (jaw muscles) attach to the mandible (lower jaw), maxilla (upper jaw), skull and neck. The muscles of mastication open, close, protrude and laterally move the jaw, enabling you to talk, chew, and swallow. The supporting muscles of mastication (neck and shoulder girdle muscles) stabilize the skull on the neck during jaw function. Dysfunction or spasm of these muscles is an important cause for TMD.

Categories: TMJ problems

Post a Comment

Oops!

Oops, you forgot something.

Oops!

The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.

126 Comments

Reply reflexology courses
3:11 PM on August 5, 2015 
This is what when i continues to be searching within several websites AS WELL AS my partner and i finally found The idea here. remarkable article. now i am and so impressed. in case never think regarding these kinds of a great thing is actually possible with it...I think people make application for a awesome knowledge especially though transactions inside most of these subjects.
Reply essay writing companies
7:07 PM on May 21, 2018 
Well, now I know something about TMJ. It's a useful explanation, actually.

Categories

General, Cosmetic & Orthodontic Dentist in Temecula Valley


Home | COVID-19 Important Info | 24/7 Online Registration | About Us | Office Tour | Modern Dental Technologies | Current Specials | Meet Dr. Ming Zhao | Request An Appointment | Dental Services | Preventive Dentistry | Restorative Dentistry | Cosmetic Dentistry | Orthodontics | Cosmetic 6 Month Braces | Implant Dentistry | Oral Surgery | Root Canal Therapy | Periodontal Therapy | Dental Emergencies | Dentures and partials | TMJ/TMD Therapy | Sports Dentistry | Smile Gallery | Financial Options | Payment plans | In-House Discount Plan | Testimonials | Dental Education | Dental FAQs | Dental Videos | Site Map | Office Blog

/
Lightbox image