The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or otherwise commonly known as jaw-joint is a type of joint that connects the lower jaw of our face to the upper skull bone which are located just in front of both the ears.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), commonly referred to as the jaw joint, connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the skull directly in front of each ear. As one of the most active joints in the human body—functioning roughly 2,000 times a day—it enables essential daily movements like chewing, talking, swallowing, and making facial expressions.
When issues arise within this joint or its surrounding muscles, ligaments, disc, or nerves, it leads to a condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Research shows that TMD affects over 10 million adults in the United States and more than a quarter of the population in India at some point in their lives. While small-scale studies in Nepal suggest a notable presence of TMD symptoms among the local population, comprehensive nationwide research is still needed to accurately measure its true prevalence across different demographic groups.