Men have an extra ligament in the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ). This ligament helps to resist condylar displacement. This explains why women have TMJ problems 8 or 10 times more often than men.
This ligament was discovered by a dentist. Terry Tanaka, DDS found the extra ligament in men when he was studying TMJ anatomy on cadavers. Appropriately, it is called the “Tanaka Ligament” in anatomy textbooks.
All TMJ Treatment begins with proper diagnosis. If you feel that symptoms may indicate your TMJ then feel free to contact Dr. Mark Z. Yamamoto, DDS, MAGD at (714) 847-9900 for immediate assistance.