Today, with the increasing intensity of work and stress, temporomandibular joint disorders are also increasing. The biggest problem that patients experience in this regard is that they do not know which doctor they should consult with this complaint. Temporomandibular joint diseases are complex diseases involving both the muscles and the soft and hard tissue elements that make up the temporomandibular joint. The harmony between the joint surface and the disc is impaired. Many etiological factors have been suggested in the emergence of temporomandibular disorders, there is no single factor. It is a multifactorial disorder. Among these factors are trauma, joint laxity, stress and accordingly bruxism (clenching teeth). Bruxism (clenching teeth) causes overload on the joint. Wear on tooth surfaces causes sensitivity, decrease in facial height, increase in muscle tone, and changes in the joint.

Symptoms of TMJ disorders:
• Pain, strain during mouth opening
• The sound coming from the joint when opening and closing the mouth
• Restriction or locking in mouth opening
• Pain while chewing
• Difficulty and pain in opening the jaw, usually in the morning, pain in all teeth
• Earaches
• Ringing in the ears, rumbling-like sounds
• Sudden change in the shape of our upper and lower teeth when touching each other
• Facial asymmetry that may be due to hyperplasia of facial muscles
• Slipping in the jaw during mouth opening
• A feeling of stuffiness and pressure in the ear
Dentists play an important role in the treatment of temporomandibular joint diseases. Starting the treatment with the simplest, the patient should be informed about what can be done throughout the treatment. Botox to the muscles, application of plaque to the teeth, jaw exercises, arthrocentesis (washing the inside of the joint), psychotherapy and open joint surgery are among the treatments to be performed. The right treatment will be determined by the specialist in this field.
During the treatment;
• The load on the joints should be reduced, stress should be avoided as much as possible.
• Long-term chewing gum should not be, hard foods should be avoided.
• Mouth should not be opened excessively while yawning, lower jaw should be supported by hand.
• No tearing should be done with the front teeth.
• One-sided chewing should not be done, it puts too much load on the joint of one side. Food should be chewed on both sides.
Treatment takes an average of 6 months.