Causes of Temporomandibular Joint Disease

Injury To The Jaw

Injury to the jaw will increase a person's risk of developing TMJ disorders, though the exact one will vary depending on the scope of the injury. When a person is dealt a blow to the jaw, it's possible the joint itself will become damaged. The damaged joint can lead to the development of temporomandibular joint disorders.

This is somewhat intuitive, as TMJ disorders occur when there's any problem with the temporomandibular joint. An injury is a much more effective way of causing damage than an autoimmune disease. The only question is whether the TMJ disorders will develop immediately, or whether they would develop over time.

Different types of injury might cause different results. Not a lot is known about the direct cause of different temporomandibular joint disorders. However, it stands to reason that if a person has their jaw dislocated or badly broken, the joint probably suffered noticeable damage. But what if the blow wasn't that serious? Hairline cracks in the bone and fractional displacements of the joint could lead to severe pain down the road.

Continue reading to learn how teeth might cause TMJ disorders.