The Temporomandibular Joint is the most used joint in the entire body, opening and closing up to 2000 times per day, allowing us to chew, speak and breathe. It is also a very complicated joint. The Temporomandibular Joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones in your skull. Attached by muscles and ligaments, the TMJ allows your jaw to move up, down, and side to side. Pain in the TMJ and surrounding muscles is called TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction).

Symptoms of TMD include:

• Pain when chewing
• TMJ sounds such as clicking, popping, and grating
• Headaches
• Ear pain and fullness
• Facial pain / Muscle fatigue and tenderness
• Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Sensitive teeth when no dental problems can be found

High temperatures and increased UV rays are always the norm in South Florida, and with year long sun, sunburns and sun damage seem inevitable. Even with the increased use of sun screens, many people are seeing the effects of sun damage such as wrinkles, brown spots, and overall dryness as they age. Why? Because the effects of the sun can appear as long as 20 to 30 years after sun damage first occurs. So even if your sun worshiping days are over, the result of your prior sun exposure may only now be emerging.