A member asked:

What causes temporomandibular joint dysfunction tmj vs tmd?

16 doctors weighed in across 6 answers

Mostly the same: Tmj is the name of the place where the lower jaw (mandible) meets with the skull. Tmd is a disorder of that joint. It's caused by lots of things, including the forces of chewing and grinding one's teeth. If you think you have this, stop chewing gum and very chewy foods then start with simple measures like otc Ibuprofen and warm compresses. In the end, most need a custom guard to protect teeth.

Answered 10/1/2015

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Dr. Gary Lederman answered

Specializes in Dentistry

Not much: Tmj is a layman's term, and refers to the joint itself. Tm dysfunction involves the joint and it's internal structures as well as external ones, the surrounding musculature and fascia of the face, neck, shoulders and back? It can becaused by a bad bite and is related to posture, vertebral alignment and head position as well. Also, it's associated with tooth clenching and grinding and migraines.

Answered 8/2/2015

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Dr. John Van der Werff answered

Specializes in Dentistry

Same thing: These usually refer to the same thing. Tmd is the disfunction of the tmj, the jaw joint. They can be multiple contributing factors including trauma, poor growth patterns of the face, clenching the teeth, poor nutrition, and stress.

Answered 4/25/2019

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Dr. Jeffrey Bassman answered

Specializes in Dentistry

Anatomy: Tmj refers to the temporomandibular joints, where the upper bone (maxilla- temporal bone) and the lower jaw (mandible) meet and function...The joints. This is a simplistic description and you should look this up on the web for a more definitive anatomical answer. Better terms for symptoms associated with the TMJ mechanism are tmd (temporomandibular dysfunction, ) or TMJ syndrome.

Answered 3/18/2015

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Dr. Louis Gallia answered

Specializes in Surgery - Oral & Maxillofacial

A few things: Causes of TMJ syndrome are not completely understood.. Causes may include, misalignment (malocclusion) of or trauma to the teeth or jaw, teeth grinding (bruxism),, poor posture, stress or anxiety, arthritis or other inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders, excessive gum chewing. Treatment can be complex and beyond the scope of this answer. See a TMJ expert for guidance.

Answered 3/17/2015

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Dr. Paul Grin answered

Specializes in Pain Management

TMD or TMJ?: The difference between TMD and TMJ. TMD refers to temporomandibular joint disease or temporomandibular joint, anatomical structure. The cause of TMJ disorders is not clear, but can be a result of trauma or inflammation.

Answered 8/2/2015

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