The mandibular joint is one of the most mobile joints of the body, making over 2,000 movements a day.
Mandibular joints are positioned in front of the auditory meatus, connecting the mandible to the skull. The mandibular joint is one of the most mobile joints of the body, making over 2,000 movements a day. This leaflet gives an overview of the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment methods of mandibular joints and mandibular joint exercises at home.
Causes of Mandibular Joint Diseases
Mandibular joint diseases can develop due to following reasons:
- Malocclusion in which the opposite teeth do not fit correctly in relation to each other;
- Missing or crooked teeth;
- Disc (the cartilage disc between the joint ball and socket, which makes the movement of bones smoother) displacement as a result of trauma;
- Intra-articular inflammation, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis;
- Intra-articular cartilage wear or osteoarthritis;
- Stress-induced compression of teeth, i.e. bruxism and jaw muscle spasms;
- Various head and neck injuries.
All aforementioned causes can lead to an incorrect position of the mandible, which causes excessive tension and fatigue to nerves, blood vessels, muscles and connective tissue passing through the mandibular joint.
