All it takes is a simple fall down or bunk to the chin or face of your child to damage the TMJ anatomy and interfere with the normal growth and development of the upper and lower jaws and bite.
Children with this type of TMJ injury and problem often present with a lower jaw and chin that seems to have dropped back, while the teeth in the front of the mouth seem to buck out. The chin can distort to one side, indicating one jaw joint injury is worse than the other. Clenching and grinding of the teeth may be present.
Interesting to note is that young children with TMJ problems do not have pain as a presenting complaint.
It is the weak chin profile that indicates a potential TMJ problem in the child. The weak chin and lower jaw growth defect can however continue to express itself into the adolescent and adult years with the potential for multiple pain symptoms as well as ongoing distortion of the bite and facial profile.
KEY: ONLY MRI WILL REVEAL WHETHER JAW JOINT AND OR GROWTH CENTER DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED AND WHETHER THE JAW JOINTS ARE STABLE OR BREAKING DOWN. MRI IS A NON IONIZING TYPE OF RADIATION WITH NO HARMFUL RISKS.