TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, or the joint that connects the lower jaw to the rest of the head. Temporomandibular joints are pair, positioned on left and right in front of the ears. They are hinges like and have pretty similar anatomy to the knee joint: lower jaw has rounded end, that fits a socket located in your head. There is a rubbery like disk that acts like a shock absorber during normal mouth opening and closing.
TMJD or TMD stands for TMJ disorder are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. TMJ disorder may result of several different factors, such as stress, bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching), arthritis in the TMJ, or trauma and injury to the head, neck, or jaw. Clicking on its own is common (20% of people have it) and unless it is associated with pain or reduced mouth opening, it does not normally require treatment.
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