Statistics indicate that the vast majority of TMJ problems are caused by trauma. By trauma, we mean an injury as obvious as a blow to the jaw with a fist or something as subtle as a whiplash injury from a car accident that causes direct trauma to the head or jaw.

The most common forms of trauma that cause TMD are:

• Whiplash (cervical acceleration/deceleration)
• Air bag deployment
• Opening the jaw too wide
• Bruxism
• Bad bite (malocclusion)
• Orthodontics
• Ligament laxity
• Stress
• Systemic diseases