According to the American Academy of Orofacial pain, Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a collective term to describe a number of clinical problems involving the masticatory muscles and/or associated structures such as the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) [1].
Signs and symptoms such as
- pain,
- limited opening,
- asymmetrical movement of the jaw,
- and joint sounds
are the most common findings.
Some signs and symptoms of TMD also occur in healthy individuals, with prevalence concentrated in the group between 15 and 25 years old. They have a tendency to increase with age, until the fifth decade of life when a reduction in prevalence is observed.
It is estimated that 37.5% of the overall population has had at least one symptom of TMD, whereas approximately 41.3% to 68.6% of university students have signs or symptoms of TMD. The cause of TMD is understood to be multifactorial; factors such as [2]
- trauma,
- parafunctional behaviour (e.g clenching and grinding),
- psychosocial disorders,
- gender,
- genetics
- and centrally mediated mechanisms
are all considered to be important factors contributing to the disorder.
Extensive reviews and clinical studies have indicated that orthodontic treatment does not cause TMD nor does it decrease the risk of developing future TMD. In a review paper by McNamara, Seligman and Okeson they concluded that:
- Signs and symptoms of TMD occur in healthy individuals
- Signs and symptoms of TMD increase with age, particularly during adolescence. Thus TMD that originates during orthodontic treatment may not be due to the treatment
- The extraction of teeth does not increase the risk of developing TMD later in life
- Although an ideal occlusion is the goal of orthodontic treatment, not achieving a perfect occlusion does not lead to TMD signs and symptoms
If I can offer you any comfort, I myself suffer from occasional bouts of TMD where my jaw muscles ache and I can't eat hard foods because of the pain. Simple rest, a soft diet and pain relief with muscles relaxants work very well for me.
If you suffer from TMD, do consult your dentist who will be able to offer you the appropriate management strategies.
References:
1. Coêlho, T. G. da S., & Caracas, H. C. P. M. (2015). Perception of the relationship between TMD and orthodontic treatment among orthodontists. Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics, 20(1), 45–51. https://doi.org/10.1590/2176-9451.20.1.045-051.oar
2. Bagis, B., Ayaz, E. A., Turgut, S., Durkan, R., & Özcan, M. (2012). Gender Difference in Prevalence of Signs and Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Retrospective Study on 243 Consecutive Patients. International Journal of Medical Sciences, 9(7), 539–544. https://doi.org/10.7150/ijms.4474
