What is temporomandibular disorder (TMD)?
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and/or the nerves associated with chronic facial pain. Any problem that prevents the complex system of muscles, bones, and joints from working together in harmony may result in temporomandibular disorder.The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), classify the categories of TMD by the following criteria: • myofascial pain – the most common form of TMD, which is discomfort or pain in the muscles that control jaw function and the neck and shoulder muscles. • internal derangement of the joint – meaning a dislocated jaw or displaced disc, or injury to the condyle (the rounded edges of the jaw). • degenerative joint disease – such as osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis in the jaw joint.A person can have one or more of these conditions at the same time.
