The lower jawbone or mandible is the only movable bone in the head. It is connected to the rest of the skeleton of the head by two articular sites, which actually form the two temporomandibular joints. The joints themselves are made up of the articular fossa, which is part of the temporal bone, and the head of the mandibular branch. Between them is a cartilaginous articular disc. All these elements are limited by t. n. capsule of the temporomandibular joint.

In order for the lower jaw to be mobile, all of these structures are connected by a number of muscles and ligaments that allow it to move, such as the muscles that allow the mouth to open, the muscles that allow the mouth to close, and the muscles that allow all lateral movements. chewing food.

Temporomandibular joint disorders

Disorders of any of the elements that make up the complex system of the temporomandibular joint fall into the wide range of temporomandibular dysfunction. Such disorders can be mainly inflammatory in nature or mechanical in nature. Various inflammatory processes that affect the area of ​​the temporomandibular joint can cause temporary or permanent disruption of the work of the affected joint. Mechanical injuries sustained in various ways also lead to impaired function. Tumorous formations in the region of the temporomandibular joint also appear as rare causes. Even abnormal growth and development of the entire skeleton can contribute to temporomandibular dysfunction. The element that is most affected is the articular cartilage, which usually has a displaced location. In such cases, the joint structures slide together in an upright and unnatural manner. From a dental point of view, the most common causes of this dysfunction are orthodontic anomalies, loss of a large number of teeth, pathological abrasion, poor prosthetic work and others. Excessive use of chewing gum and some harmful habits can also cause joint dysfunction.

Symptoms

The symptomatology of temporomandibular dysfunction can be very diverse. The appearance of joint pain, crepitation sounds, painful sensitivity of the face in the joint area, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, limited mouth opening, chewing pain, neck pain, and even pain in the area of ​​the spine, hips, and knees, may be an alarm for temporomandibular dysfunction. Facial asymmetry, neck asymmetry, and shoulder posture and spinal curvature may also be associated with temporomandibular joint dysfunction.