Dr. Jose Michelle Reyes, president of the Philippine Functional Jaw-Orthopedics, said temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome is often mistaken for other illnesses because its symptoms are common.
"For many Filipinos, curing headaches, neck, shoulder and back pains and dizziness often means taking over-the-counter medicines like aspirin for immediate relief. But recent medical findings show they may be suffering from what is called TMJ (syndrome)," Reyes told a health forum.
The temporomandibular joints are two places where the temporal bone of the skull connects to the lower jaw, called the mandible. There is one joint on each side of the face, just in front of the ears.
Each joint has a piece of cartilage — a disk — that keeps the skull and lower jaw from rubbing against each other.
This joint is the most complicated in the body since it can open and close like a hinge as well as slide forward, backward and from side to side.
TMJ syndrome can involve the joints themselves, the disk, or the muscles that control the joints as well as the upper part of the spine.
The cure for this disorder is new to the Philippines and only around 100 Filipino dentists thus far have undergone extensive training to administer it.
Locally, only 10 to 20 percent of those with TMJ disorder are aware of their condition, which affects five to seven percent of the population worldwide.
"The jaw joint, the surrounding muscles and the fit of one’s teeth are closely interrelated, each affecting the other when you chew or speak. And when your upper and lower teeth don’t fit together or are misaligned, the jaw automatically shifts to a new position and this causes what is commonly called among dentists malocclusion. That is when TMJ syndrome starts," Reyes said.
She added that jaw joints are subject to "wear and tear" because of constant use.
"It’s not the amount of food but how you chew it. Repetitive movement that causes more force and pressure to the joints (can lead to TMJ syndrome)," Reyes said.