TM Joint and Reasons for Its Disorder

The TM Joint is th joint located in front of both ears where lower jaw ( Mandible) connects with Skull. TMJ is the main joint involved during movement of mouth and Jaw.

TMJ disorder means a combination of symptoms due to functional or structural or anatomical problems with TM joints and the muscles involved during its movements.

Symptoms can be a combination of any of these symptom: Earache, headache, difficulty opening or closing of jaw or mouth, clicking or grating sounds in TM joints and pain and tenderness or locking at TMJ sites.

Problems lies in displacement and dislocation of cartilage disc in the JM joint socket, arthritis changes in TM joint, degenerative or perforative changes in disc itself due to trauma or arthritis or excessive movements
Problem is with both joints and muscles
Anatomy Of TMJ

The Jaw Joint ,TM Joints are the most active joints in body and is called Hinge and Gliding type of joint. Normally, there is smooth movements in between socket ( located in part of skull) and Condyle located in upper part of Mandible ( near ear). There is spasm of major muscles controlling the TM joints mainly
Masseter,Temporalis and Frontalis muscles

Botox Treatment

Botox treatment involves injecting Botox in Masseter,Frontalis and Temporalis muscles

Botox injections in these muscles help relax and relieve the spasm and thus relieve the pressure on TM joints and most of the time symptoms improve tremendously for 4-5 months. Not every patient responds and there is noway to find out who is going to respond. You have to through this therapeutic trial to see if Botox is the right treatment for you or no.