Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorder describes acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the lower jaw to the skull.

The disorder and resultant dysfunction can result in significant pain and impairment. Because the disorder transcends the boundaries between several health-care disciplines in particular, dentistry, neurology, physical therapy and psychology, there are a variety of quite different treatment approaches.If you have head or jaw pain, tell your dentist.

Bruxism includes clenching and grinding of the teeth. Bruxism causes chips and cracks in the teeth as well as wear of the biting surface. Often, bruxism occurs during sleep. In a typical case, the canines and incisors are commonly moved against each other laterally, i.e. with a side to side action.

This abrades tooth enamel, removing the sharp biting surfaces and flattening the edges of the teeth. Some will clench without significant side to side jaw movement. Over time, bruxing shortens and blunts the teeth being ground, and may lead to pain in the joint of the jaw, the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ), or headache. Most people are not aware of their bruxism.