TMJ / TMD

The temporomandibular joint guides jaw motions. If you have discomfort or decreased ability to talk, chew, or open your mouth comfortably, you may have temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). TMD is common and affects 10 million people in the US every year.

TMD may be caused by:

  • Poor Postural Alignment: Jobs requiring sitting at a desk, answering phones, reading, and studying can cause a forward head position that increases the tension in the jaw and jaw joints, causing pain.
  • Habits: Gum chewing, teeth clenching, eating on one side of the mouth, chewing on pens or pencils, and other habits which
    are repetitive to the jaw can lead to TMD.
  • Clenching/Grinding: Your teeth should never touch except when eating. Clenching the teeth together places constant stress on the tissues of the TMJs, causing pain and tension headaches. Grinding uses jaw muscles excessively, causing pain andtension.
  • Fractures, malocclusions, and osteoarthristis (OA) may be other causes of TMD.

Symptoms of TMD include, but are not limited to:

  • Jaw pain
  • Jaw fatigue
  • Difficulty opening your mouth to eat or talk
  • Ringing in your ears
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Popping sounds in your jaw
  • Neck pain
  • Locking jaw

How does a physical therapist diagnose TMD?
An evaluation will be completed to assess the motion of your neck and jaw and the tone and tension of your musculature as well as your posture. Your medical history and habits will be discussed as well as your sleeping positions, your work positions, and other repetitive tasks to determine possible causes.
How will your TMD be treated by a Physical Therapist?

  • Postural Education: your therapist will review your job requirements and your daily activities to help you determine appropriate changes to improve your symptoms. Your stretching and strengthening programs will address your deficits to help you regain proper posture.
  • Jaw Motion Education: your therapist will review proper positional alignment of your jaw as well as exercises to help you improve your muscular balance and coordination.
  • Manual Therapy: your therapist will help to restore your muscular balance utilizing manual therapy techniques similar to massage therapy to improve your muscular length before exercises. This will serve to strengthen and maintain your therapy gains.
  • Exercise: your therapist will give you daily home exercises to help you continue to strengthen and relax the proper muscles to improve your alignment to decrease your symptoms.

Do you have further questions about how physical therapy can benefit you and decrease your jaw pain and headaches? Please call or email our office. We would be glad to answer your questions.

Dr. Erienne Blanchard, PT, is our TMJ/TMD specialist. Call today to schedule your evaluation, and begin the healing of your pain and return to your daily activities and goals.
We are here to help and look forward to hearing from you.