Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint (more commonly called the TMJ) is an intricate joint or hinge located, when viewed from the side, at the top of your L-shaped jaw bone. You have one TMJ on the right side and one on the left. The TMJ allows you to move your jaw up and down as well as sideways.

When all is well, we hardly notice the TMJ’s precise mechanism. It is not until we detect an audible clicking in this joint, or when it causes constant pain, that it comes to our attention.

The TMJ can be damaged in a traumatic event, such as an accident, or by more subtle trauma like dentures that are too worn. Once you have TMJ problems, there is often little that can be done to bring you back to your previous level of comfort. For this reason, it is imperative that you have your dentures checked regularly – not only for their function and appearance – but more importantly, to preserve your TMJ, your mouth, and your ridges.

NOTE:

To preserve your TMJ, avoid chewing gum. It has been said that regular gum chewers wear out their TMJ four times faster than would normally be the case.