TMJ Pain

TMJ Pain

Disorders of the temporomandibular joint, also known as TMJ, commonly cause clicking or locking of the jaws, pain, and stiffness. Muscle adhesions in the jaw or misaligned joints can cause these symptoms, along with grinding your teeth, poor posture, or injury to your jaw.

In this condition, the muscles tighten, and the lower jaw and skull become misaligned, to the point that pressure is put on the joint and the disc becomes compressed.

Stretches or tears of the ligaments can cause the disc to slip out of position. Wear and tear on the disc leads to degeneration of the joint, which allows the bones to rub against each other and injure the nerves.

An overall approach to wellness helps determine the best course of action for your problem. Chiropractors look beyond your jaw, as well as at the rest of your lifestyle. Chiropractic adjustments may help you with TMJ treatment depending on the cause of your jaw disorder. The chiropractor may apply pressure to your jaw, skull or upper spine to relieve irritated nerves and increase the range of motion in your jaw.

The Active Release Technique, a patented tissue-based therapy, can be incorporated into your treatment to break up adhesions and scar tissue around muscles and ligaments. When combined with regular chiropractic treatments or when used alone, this method is proven to be highly effective.