You
may have read articles in newspapers and magazines about
"TMD" -- temporomandibular (jaw) disorders, also called
"TMJ syndrome." Perhaps you have even felt pain sometimes
in your jaw area, or maybe your dentist or physician
has told you that you have TMD.
If
you have questions about TMD, you are not alone. Researchers,
too, are looking for answers to what causes TMD, what
are the best treatments, and how can we prevent these
disorders. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research has written this pamphlet to share with you
what we have learned about TMD.
TMD
is not just one disorder, but a group of conditions,
often painful, that affect the jaw joint (temporomandibular
joint, or TMJ) and the muscles that control chewing.
Although we don't know how many people actually have
TMD, the disorders appear to affect about twice as many
women as men.
The
good news is that for most people, pain in the area
of the jaw joint or muscles is not a signal that a serious
problem is developing. Generally, discomfort from TMD
is occasional and temporary, often occurring in cycles.
The pain eventually goes away with little or no treatment.
Only a small percentage of people with TMD pain develop
significant, long-term symptoms.
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