Summary
Craniomandibular Dysfunction (CMD) is a disorder of the temporomandibular joint, which is often caused by stress. If you have a lot of stress, your body tries to reduce the stress, especially during sleep. This often results in the jaws pressing against each other or teeth grinding, which means that the temporomandibular joint and teeth are subject to very high tension.
The musculature is overloaded, which manifests itself in painful tensions, which can also manifest itself with headaches and many other symptoms. CMD can also be triggered by malpositioned teeth or deviations of the cervical spine. In any case, a detailed analysis must take place to identify the cause.
There are many causes, but especially stress seems to trigger CMD. In childhood, CMD is rarely or not at all diagnosed, while it increases during puberty and becomes less frequent again with age. In addition, middle-aged women seem to become ill somewhat more frequently than men.
Increasing pressure to perform, lack of exercise and poor posture are problems that modern lifestyles bring with them, and these problems favour the development of CMD. The treatment of CMD is also based on these problems and is characterized by a protracted but favorable prognosis with multidisciplinary treatment and active cooperation of the affected person. The treatment consists of dental or orthodontic, physiotherapeutic and, if necessary, psychological care.
Patients can best help themselves through mindfulness exercises.This includes relaxation exercises, body awareness and the attempt not to take the stress of the day into bed. With a multidisciplinary treatment of CMD, the prognosis of regaining freedom from symptoms is extremely favorable.
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