Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD)


Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a common chronic condition involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the related structures. They are more prevalent in women and in association with other co-morbidities such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, sleep disorders, mood and psychological conditions, bruxism etc.

Common symptoms of TMJ or TMD includes:

  • Pain in the TMJs and muscles of mastication

  • Difficulty opening wide

  • Reduced range of motion

  • Difficulty chewing

  • Joint sounds such as clicking and popping

  • Headaches

  • Discomfort in the ear – pain, ringing/tinnitus, congestion

  • Pain in the neck

Common treatment modalities include:

  • Patient education and stress management

  • Physical therapy

  • Occlusal splint and night guard therapy

  • Pharmacological therapy

  • Photo-bio-stimulation (PBM) therapy

If you are experiencing any symptoms of TMJ or TMD, patients can find relief with non-surgical treatments provided by oral medicine specialist at North Dallas Dental Health. Book an appointment today for a thorough evaluation and treatment plan.

1.      Mieszko Wieckiewicz, Klaus Boening, Piotr Wiland, Yuh-Yuan Shiau & Anna Paradowska-Stolarz Reported concepts for the treatment modalities and pain management of temporomandibular disorders. J Headache Pain. 2015:16:106. doi: 10.1186/s10194-015-0586-5.

2.      Yadav S, Yang Y, Dutra EH, Robinson JL, Wadhwa S. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Jul;66(6):1213-1217. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15354.