Dr. Anup Muduli serves on the executive committee of the New Jersey Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. AnupMuduli practices as an oral surgeon at Ramapo Valley Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, P.C., in Oakland, New Jersey, where he assists patients with TMJ issues and other dental procedures.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge joint connecting the lower jaw, or mandible, to either side of the skull’s temporal bone.

The TMJ is used during eating and speaking, and can sometimes be overworked due to excessive grinding or clenching of the jaw. Signs TMJ problems include pain and tenderness along the jaw and discomfort while chewing food or talking. Pain associated with the TMJ can extend up to the ear and throughout the face, while chewing issues can become as extreme as a total locking of the joint. TMJ issues can also become audibly noticeable. The joint may click when it is being used, though a clicking noise without pain can generally be left untreated.