Abstract
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction (also known as myofascial pain dysfunction of the muscles of mastication) is characterized by pain in the joint itself that radiates into the mandible, ear, neck, and tonsillar pillars. The TMJ is a true joint that is divided into upper and lower synovial cavities by a fibrous articular disk. Internal derangement of this disk may result in pain and TMJ dysfunction, but extracapsular causes of TMJ pain are much more common. The TMJ is innervated by branches of the mandibular nerve. The muscles involved in TMJ dysfunction often include the temporalis, masseter, and external and internal pterygoids; the trapezius and sternocleidomastoid may be involved as well. Headache often accompanies the pain of TMJ dysfunction and is clinically indistinguishable from tension-type headache. Stress is often the precipitating factor or an exacerbating factor in the development of TMJ dysfunction. A history of bruxism or jaw clenching is often present. Dental malocclusion may also play a role in its evolution.
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