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TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint and saying that you have "TMJ" is like saying you have KJ (knee joint) or EJ (elbow joint).
While the term TMJ is reflective of the early belief that these disorders largely originated in the joint itself, more recent knowledge has shown that the true cause of joint problems often lies elsewhere. That, combined with the fact that the term TMJ is not really descriptive of a disorder, has led to today's more common use of the term TMD, which stands for temporomandibular disorder.
While the latter is the most common term in use today, you may also hear these conditions referred to as craniomandibular disorders (CMD), craniofacial pain disorders (CPD), temporomandibular dysfunction, or the still-used catchall term TMJ.
Damage to these joints as a result of accidents or arthritis can be quite obvious. As other pain conditions of the head and neck began to be associated with this joint, the term TMJ was coined to collectively describe them. Treatments frequently focused on the joint itself and often involved invasive procedures directly within the joint or even surgical replacement of the joint.
Today it is widely believed that most joint problems are commonly a result of problems elsewhere in the bite.
"I would not have trusted anyone but you to fulfill a task like this. I feel privileged to have had such a talented woman like you transform my life."The many signs and symptoms of TMD often lead the patient to a physician prior to seeking dental consultation. Confronted with these symptoms, the medical profession often treats these conditions with anti-inflammatory drug, pain medication or tranquilizers.
Dentistry is still not in consensus on the causes and treatment of TMD, however the profession does largely agree that the condition should be treated in the most conservative manner (surgery is a last resort) and without drugs whenever possible. Drugs can often mask the symptoms, do not treat the underlying cause, and may have severe side effects.
With growing technological advances, new means of evaluation TMD patients has given dentists additional information to expand their diagnostic capability. Those using these new techniques feel stronger than ever that the promary problem can often be traced to a poor occlusion (bit) than to the joint itself. Joint problems are frequently related to a misalignment of the teeth (malocclusion), which in turn causes a misaligned joint. Misalignment of joints is often resolved as a result of correcting a malocclusion.
