man touching jaw while in pain from TMJ

What Is TMJ?

Helping Relieve Your Jaw Pain

TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint which connects your jawbone to your skull. This joint allows you to open and close your mouth, chew, speak, and move your jaw from side to side. Also called TMD (temporomandibular disorder), TMJ disorders occur when there are problems with the muscles and/or the joint itself that can cause jaw pain, difficulty chewing and more. However, it is often a complex issue that involves many different parts of the body. At Virginia Sleep and TMJ Therapy, we partner with Angus Dentistry to diagnose and treat patients with the condition and ultimately help them find relief.

How The Jaw Works

The TMJ joint refers to the lower part of the jaw on both sides of the face. The joint acts like a hinge and controls jaw and muscle movement. A properly functioning temporomandibular joint controls the opening and closing of the mouth and plays an important part in speaking, swallowing and even making facial expressions. It is composed of three parts:

The joint located in the lower jaw.

The joint located at the bottom of the skull.

A small, round disc between the Mandibular condyle and Glenoid fossa. The meniscus acts as a cushion for these joints, aiding with movements such as chewing.

What Are The Symptoms Of  TMJ Disorders?

While most people associate jaw pain as the primary symptom of these disorders, it affects every person differently and has a variety of symptoms. Some people experience mild symptoms that go away on their own. Others experience chronic, ongoing symptoms that require treatment. Symptoms include:

  • Pain, tenderness or inflammation in or around the jaw

  • Earaches

  • Clicking or popping sounds when opening or closing the mouth

  • Trouble opening and closing the mouth

  • Difficulty chewing or biting

  • Jaw locking

  • Teeth grinding (bruxism)

  • Tinnitus (ear ringing)

  • Dizziness

  • Headaches

woman sitting desk holding head with tmj jaw pain

Types Of  TMJ Disorders

TMD refers to a group of conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint. These conditions can occur independently of each other, or more than one can occur at a time. Disorders are commonly grouped into these types:

The most common type of TMD, myofascial pain spreads out from the jaw to the ears, neck, shoulders, back and other parts of the body.

This occurs when the joint or disc is dislocated or displaced.

Conditions such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis can affect the jaw joint.

Helping You Find Relief

Untreated TMD can greatly impact your quality of life. It can interfere with sleep, affect your posture, contribute to other chronic health problems and can even lead to depression, anxiety and other behavioral health problems. If you think you may have a temporomandibular joint disorder, schedule an appointment with our experts by requesting an appointment with us by using our online form or by calling 804-729-3474.