TMJ Disorders

Overview

TMJ disorders cause tenderness and pain in and around the temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-mun-DIB-u-lur) joint (TMJ) — where your lower jawbone meets your skull. TMJ disorders can be caused by many different types of problems — including arthritis, jaw injury, or muscle pain from clenching or grinding your teeth. In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders can be alleviated with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments. Severe TMJ disorders may need to be treated with dental or surgical interventions.

Why choose Mayo Clinic for TMJ disorders

• Expertise and experience. Mayo Clinic doctors have extensive experience treating difficult TMJ disorders.
• Surgical treatment. It is rare to need surgery on the temporomandibular joint, but when it is necessary, Mayo Clinic oral and maxillofacial surgeons have extensive experience in these types of procedures.
• Team approach. A number of specialists may need to be involved in complicated problems. The team can include dentists, physical therapists, health psychologists, oral surgeons, neurologists and pain management specialists.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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