Temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome

Temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome is the most common disease of the oral and maxillofacial region, and the pathogenesis is not fully understood. The main clinical manifestations of this disorder are pain in the joint area, joint popping during movement, and jaw movement disorder. Most of them are joint dysfunctions with good prognosis; however, organic changes may occur in very few cases. There are many causes of TMJ disorder syndrome, mainly the following: 1. mental factors: mental factors play a very important role in the occurrence and aggravation of TMJ disorder syndrome. 2. trauma factors: many patients have a history of local trauma. For example, acute trauma such as having been hit by external force, sudden biting of hard objects, excessive mouth opening (such as yawning); as well as frequent chewing of hard food, grinding of teeth at night and unilateral chewing habits. These factors may cause joint contusion or strain and masticatory muscle group dysfunction.3. Occlusal factors: Occlusal disorders can also lead to the occurrence or aggravation of temporomandibular joint disorder syndrome. Such as occlusal interference, excessive tooth wear, excessive missing molar teeth, poor restorations, low intermaxillary distance, etc. Disturbance of the occlusal relationship can disrupt the functional balance between the internal structures of the joint and contribute to the occurrence of the syndrome.4. Systemic and other factors: Systemic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause TMJ disorder. In addition, some medical factors, such as radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal cancer, can lead to structural and functional changes in the masticatory muscles, which can also cause TMJ disorder syndrome. The main clinical manifestations of TMJ disorder syndrome include localized joint soreness or pain, joint popping and jaw movement disorders. The pain may be localized in the joint area or around the joint; it may be accompanied by pressure pain of varying severity. The soreness or pain of the joint is especially pronounced when chewing and opening the mouth. The popping occurs during mouth opening activities. The ringing can occur at different stages of jaw movement, and can be a single crisp ringing sound or a broken continuous ringing sound. The common motor obstructions are restricted mouth opening, jaw deviation during mouth opening, and restricted left and right lateral jaw movements. In addition, it may be accompanied by temporal pain, dizziness, and tinnitus.