Draper, Utah Dentists

About TMJ

TMJ stands for Temporomandibular joint disorder. It occurs when the joint that connects the jaw to the skull becomes swollen. The most obvious symptom is discomfort while chewing, but as the condition worsens, other symptoms may arise.

TMJ can be caused by several things. A few causes include:

• Nail biting
• Underbite
• Misalignment of teeth
• Clenching or grinding teeth (usually occurs in sleep)
• Jaw injury

Treatment can vary, depending on the cause of discomfort. To see which solution is best for you, talk to a dentist who specializes in TMJ. The treatment may include something as simple as wearing a headband at night to more complex solutions, like jaw-repositioning surgery.

You may also want to view a list of TMJ symptoms.