Q: Who Gets TMJDs?
A: As many as 65-85 percent of the United States population will experience some signs and symptoms of TMJD within their lifetime. Approximately 35 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ problems. Similar to other pain conditions, TMJDs affects women two times more than men, and is most prevalent between the ages of 20-40.
Q: What are TMJDs?
A: Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders (TMJDs), commonly called “TMJ,” are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. One or both joints may be affected in people with TMJDs, which can affect a person’s ability to speak, eat, chew, swallow, make facial expressions, and even breathe.
Q: What Conditions May Overlap with TMJDs?
A: Millions suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, endometriosis, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, and vulvodynia. Current research indicates that these conditions frequently coexist or ‘overlap,’ yet all of the disorders are poorly understood.