Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, often referred to as TMJ, occurs when there is dysfunction in the jaw. This can sometimes cause jaw pain, headaches, difficulty chewing, clicking and sometimes even can cause your jaw to lock.
Your temporomandibular joint is the hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are located right in front of your ear. The temporomandibular joint area contains a small disc that sits between the two bones, allowing the joint to move efficiently when it’s functioning properly.
Believe it or not, this tiny joint is what allows you to open your mouth up and down, and also side to side! The temporomandibular joint is the joint that is responsible for chewing, talking and yawning, so when there is dysfunction, you are seriously limited!
What can cause TMJ?
After a tumultuous 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire world faced many unexpected stressors. Interestingly, our practice has seen a massive influx of TMJ patients, which many would say is directly related to the challenges of the last year. Many experts believe TMJ can be caused by stress, repeated clenching of the jaw, grinding of the teeth, arthritis, injury to the joint, your jaw and muscles in your head and neck.
What does TMJ Feel like?
TMJ may sometimes cause strong pain and discomfort, on both sides or sometimes only one side of your face. Some patients also experience headaches, earaches, dizziness, swelling and even the complete locking of the jaw.
How Our Office Treats TMJ
Don’t settle for at-home remedies for your TMJ. Our office can help you feel relief faster than anti-inflammatories alone.
In conjunction with realigning the neck, upper back and posture, our practice uses manual therapy, gentle chiropractic manipulation, acupuncture and laser treatment to help treat pain associated with TMJ. When complimenting chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture and cold laser therapy help provide a remedy at the source of the pain. This is what helps our patients feel relief fast!
We closely work together with patients to implement corrective exercises that will help functionally retrain the muscles in the jaw. Our patients can expect to feel relief within a few weeks.
If you are suffering from jaw pain or have been diagnosed with TMJ, make an appointment to see Dr. Christine today.