For individuals suffering from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), the most basic daily functions can cause pain. The popping sound the jaw makes for people suffering from TMJ can be audible in addition to uncomfortable. TMJ often leads to pain, lockjaw and constant discomfort. While most people suffering from TMJ turn to a dentist or doctor for relief, it’s possible to help realign the jaw with the help of chiropractic adjustments.
Causes of TMJ
- Injury to the joint
- Overuse due to excessive chewing
- Habitual clenching or teeth grinding
- Orthodontics
- Excessive nail biting
- Degenerative joint disease
TMJ disorder is very common. The biggest symptoms include, pain and discomfort in your jaw, difficulty chewing, dizziness, headache, earache, neck and shoulder pain and more.
Chiropractic Adjustments for TMJ
You may be wondering, how can chiropractic adjustments for TMJ help relieve my pain and cause a difference in my disorder? Chiropractic adjustments for TMJ can help ease pain by correcting the misalignment between the spine and nervous system. Chiropractic for TMJ can be used alone, or as a complement to other treatments.
- Relaxes the muscles
- Adjusts the joint
- Uses specific trigger points to reposition the jaw
Through high-frequency, low-impact chiropractic adjustments, patients with TMJ can see improvement in the distance they can open their jaws and a decrease in pain. Many patients who’ve been treated for TMJ with chiropractic adjustments report relief and satisfaction.
Chiropractic treatment helps relieve pain in the short term and prevent TMJ pain from returning. Chiropractic adjustments for TMJ focus on relieving tension in the muscles around the joints using massage and trigger point therapy. Chiropractors can manipulate trigger points to relieve the pain associated with them, which is common in treating TMJ.
Adjustments to the jaw joint are done by hand when treating TMJ with chiropractic care. This technique causes a tiny stretch inside the joint to release any fibrous attachments made by the body due to previous trauma. TMJ caused by misalignment in the neck and upper back can find relief from spinal joint adjustments in these areas. Chiropractors can also use massage to minimize stress put on the jaw so other adjustments can be more effective.
By employing these treatments, motion of the jaw joint, ear pain, jaw locking, headaches and neck pain can be reduced. By treating the cause of the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ, chiropractic care can help reduce symptom, which makes for a happier and less painful life. In addition to regular chiropractic treatment for TMJ, the chiropractor may also give you home exercises to strengthen the joint and muscles surrounding it.
Chiropractic adjustments for TMJ may be the solution you’re looking for to stop the pop and relieve the pain associated with the disorder. Contact Pangea Chiropractic for more information about chiropractic adjustments for TMJ treatment.
FAQs About Chiropractic Adjustments for TMJ
Can a chiropractor help with TMJ pain and jaw alignment?
Yes, chiropractic care can be very effective for TMJ disorder. At Pangea Chiropractic in Bend, Oregon, our doctors use a combination of gentle jaw adjustments, trigger point therapy, and spinal alignment corrections to address the underlying causes of TMJ pain. Misalignments in the upper cervical spine and neck can contribute to jaw dysfunction, so chiropractic treatment focuses on restoring proper alignment to both the jaw joint and the supporting structures of the spine. Many patients experience significant relief from jaw pain, popping, and limited mobility through regular chiropractic care.
What does a chiropractic TMJ adjustment involve?
A chiropractic TMJ adjustment at our Bend clinic typically involves several targeted techniques. Your chiropractor will use gentle, hands-on manipulation of the temporomandibular joint to release fibrous attachments and restore proper range of motion. Treatment also includes trigger point therapy to relieve tension in the muscles surrounding the jaw, massage to reduce stress on the joint, and spinal adjustments in the neck and upper back to correct misalignments that may be contributing to your TMJ symptoms. These techniques work together to improve jaw mobility, reduce pain, and help prevent symptoms from returning.
How many chiropractic visits are needed to treat TMJ?
The number of visits needed for TMJ treatment varies based on the severity of your condition and its underlying causes. Most patients at Pangea Chiropractic in Bend, Oregon, begin noticing improvement within the first few sessions, with significant relief typically occurring over a course of several weeks of consistent care. Your chiropractor may also provide home exercises to strengthen the jaw joint and surrounding muscles between visits, which can accelerate your progress. During your initial evaluation, we develop a personalized treatment plan with a clear timeline based on your specific TMJ symptoms and goals.
What causes TMJ, and how does chiropractic care address the root cause?
TMJ disorder can result from several factors, including jaw injury, teeth grinding or clenching, excessive chewing, orthodontic stress, nail biting, or degenerative joint disease. Chiropractic care at Pangea Chiropractic addresses the root cause by correcting misalignments between the spine and nervous system that contribute to jaw dysfunction. Rather than simply masking pain, our Bend chiropractors work to realign the cervical spine and jaw joint, release muscle tension through trigger point therapy, and restore proper nerve communication. This comprehensive approach treats the source of your discomfort rather than just the symptoms.
Can chiropractic care for TMJ also help with related headaches and neck pain?
Absolutely. TMJ disorder frequently causes referred pain that manifests as headaches, earaches, and neck and shoulder tension. Because chiropractic treatment for TMJ addresses spinal alignment and nervous system function in addition to the jaw joint itself, many patients at our Bend, Oregon, clinic experience relief from these related symptoms as well. Correcting upper cervical misalignments can reduce nerve irritation that contributes to both jaw pain and tension headaches, while massage and trigger point therapy help release the muscle tightness in the neck and shoulders that often accompanies TMJ disorder.
