Temporandibular disorder is a condition that involves the muscles and joints of mastication, or chewing. This region is made up of the Temporomandibular Joint, which contains a soft cartilaginous disc that lies between the condyle of the mandible and a socket in the temporal bone, four surrounding muscles (Masseter, Temporalis, Lateral Pterygoid and Medial Pterygoid muscles) and is primarily controlled by Cranial Nerve Five, or the Trigeminal nerve. The proximity of the TMJ is very close to your ear and the C1 vertebrae, often relating to one another.
TMJ Symptoms:
Clicking or popping of the jaw
Ear ache
Pain in the face or jaw
Headaches/Migraines
Pain at the base of the skull, usually on the side of related TMJ symptoms
Pain while chewing or yawning
Neck Pain
Upper back/shoulder pain
Treatment Options:
An evaluation by your dentist to ensure that it’s not due to a related tooth alignment or condition
Orthotics fit to realign jaw motion can be helpful for many individuals
Chiropractic Neurology care
Physical Therapy
What causes TMJ?
Traumatic Injury
Chronic head tilt
Misalignments in the upper cervical spine (base of skull)
Postural (Anterior head positioning), often from computer usage or work.
Tooth misalignment
What can Chiropractic Neurological care do for me?
Once we have determined the source of your problem, we will then devise a treatment plan to retrain normal TMJ function. This may include, but is not limited to:
Cervical and thoracic adjustments
Myofascial release of the TMJ muscles
Proprioceptive retraining of the muscle spindles and golgi tendon organs surrounding the joint
Cold laser therapy
Muscle stim
Referral to dental specialist
@ home strengthening exercise
Neurological retraining of jaw alignment
We have excellent results with many of these cases as we are able to establish treatment from a neurological, chiropractic and physical rehabilitation standpoint
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