Although often viewed as the domain of the maxillofacial specialist, many temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders may be sufficiently screened and managed by the chiropractor.
TMJ Pain Referral SitesThe TMJ is one of the joints of the body that is taken for granted and rarely thought about as a cause of pain. Common complaints that may be due to dysfunction of the TMJ (lack of proper motion of the jaw joint) are:
Chiropractors are doctors of the nerves, muscles and joints of the body. As your TMJ is a joint - your chiropractor may be able to help! Treatment of the TMJ commonly revolves around the loosening of muscles around the joints themselves - working both outside and sometimes inside the mouth, using massage and trigger point therapy. Adjustments to the joints can also be done by a technique by hand that causes a tiny stretch inside the joint to release any 'fibrous' attachments that have been made by the body due to previous trauma. The typical "clicking or popping" sound with chiropractic adjustments to joints won't occur here and it's not painful! Home exercises may also be given to help strengthen the joint and loosen the muscles that are too tight. By carrying out all the above, motion of the jaw joint can improve and symptoms such as ear pain, jaw locking, headaches and neck pain can be reduced.