Many people have commonly used “TMJ” to refer to what is actually “TMD,” which stands for TemporoMandibular Disorders. TMD encompasses various symptoms related to the jaw and its supporting structures.TMD includes not only issues with the TMJ but also muscle pain, headaches, and different forms of facial pain. This disorder falls under the category of orofacial pain, which encompasses numerous types of pain in the head and neck region.Symptoms of TMD can greatly vary and may involve:
- Jaw pain.
- Facial pain.
- Shoulder or neck pain.
- Jaw stiffness.
- Difficulty in opening or closing your mouth.
- Jaw popping or clicking.
- Headaches.
- Migraines.
- Earaches.
- Toothache.
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
- Bite changes, where your teeth no longer fit together properly.