TMJ(temporo-mandibular joint) issues have increased dramatically over the last 20 years. My personal opinion is that there is no dysfunction of the joint or the muscles.
TMJ issues are widely accepted to be caused by bruxism. The root cause of this is stress, internal or external. Human beings are programmed to respond to high levels of stress with the "Fight or Flight" reflex, otherwise known as the Sympathetic Reflex. Part of this reflex involves us clenching our teeth.
Therefore, I believe that all the issues are due to hyperfunction.
There are up to 40 possible side effects of this hyperfunction. These include worn teeth, stiff shoulders, frequent headaches, poor quality of sleep and even dark eye circles and eyebags.
The solution, I propose to my patients, is to manage the stress and the provision of preventive measures to reduce the symptoms.
