Causes of Temporomandibular Joint Disease

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is wired like a sliding hinge to connect your jaw to your skull. One joint is on either side of a person's jaw. Temporomandibular joint disease, also called a TMJ disorder, is an illness that causes pain in a person's jaw and the muscles controlling the jaw. It can often be difficult to determine the cause, as the pain can occur due to many potential factors, such as from grinding or clenching of the teeth. Thankfully, most discomfort that occurs due to TMJ disorders is only temporary. Patients can manage their care or receive nonsurgical treatments from their doctor. Surgery is only recommended after all other possible measures have failed. Start reading now to learn about some of the most common causes of temporomandibular joint disease.

Arthritis

Certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, can increase a person's likelihood of developing a TMJ disorder. The temporomandibular joint functions by combining sliding motions with hinge action. All parts of the bone that interact within the joint have a covering of cartilage. A shock-absorbing disk separates the bones to keep movement smooth. However, it's possible rheumatoid arthritis will wear away both the disk and the cartilage.

Rheumatoid arthritis is perhaps the most common type of arthritis and occurs when the body attacks itself. TMJ disorders may develop as a side effect of the illness. Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the body's tissues, destroying cartilage, whereas osteoarthritis is a joint disorder that wears down the cartilage between bones over long periods. Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease, and when it wears away the cartilage in the jawbone, this can cause TMJ disorders to develop.

Continue reading to learn about the injury that can cause temporomandibular joint disease to occur.

Injury To The Jaw

Injury to the jaw will increase a person's risk of developing TMJ disorders, though the exact one will vary depending on the scope of the injury. When a person is dealt a blow to the jaw, it's possible the joint itself will become damaged. The damaged joint can lead to the development of temporomandibular joint disorders.

This is somewhat intuitive, as TMJ disorders occur when there's any problem with the temporomandibular joint. An injury is a much more effective way of causing damage than an autoimmune disease. The only question is whether the TMJ disorders will develop immediately, or whether they would develop over time.

Different types of injury might cause different results. Not a lot is known about the direct cause of different temporomandibular joint disorders. However, it stands to reason that if a person has their jaw dislocated or badly broken, the joint probably suffered noticeable damage. But what if the blow wasn't that serious? Hairline cracks in the bone and fractional displacements of the joint could lead to severe pain down the road.

Continue reading to learn how teeth might cause TMJ disorders.