Acupuncture and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD) are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement, which are often simply called TMJ. TMJ occurs when the lower jaw joints are inflamed or out of alignment, leading pain in the joint as well as in the surrounding muscles. These joints join the jawbone to the skull and if there is any inflammation it becomes difficult to chew. The most common symptoms are clicking and locking of the joint.