TMJ Pain Relief – Can Chiropractic Help?

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TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint.  TMJ disorders are pain and dysfunction related to the jaw joint.  TMJ disorders occur when the jaw joints and the muscles which open and close your mouth do not work together properly. The following is a list of common TMJ symptoms:

  • Pain with opening and/or closing the mouth
  • A “clicking” sound in the jaw
  • Headaches
  • Neck Pain
  • Facial Pain
  • Dizziness

There are many TMJ treatment options with the goal of providing TMJ pain relief. The TMJ relief is accomplished by restoring proper TMJ joint mechanics and jaw muscle balance. This would include obvious treatments such as TMJ exercises but also other manual therapy treatments.

An important part of restoring proper TMJ joint mechanics and also jaw muscle balance is a properly aligned and functioning cervical spine. The TMJ and joints of the cervical spine are intimately related. Another indication of this relationship is why TMJ problems commonly cause neck pain and persistent headaches.  The headaches are often located in your temples.

When there is joint dysfunction in the cervical spine it leads to secondary muscle spasm of the muscles of the neck and TMJ. As a chiropractor, I help reduce the primary joint dysfunction in the cervical spine which leads to relaxation of the muscles of the cervical spine and also muscles of the TMJ. The treatments to the cervical spine also help to restore proper postural properties to the cervical spine which also help to make direct treatment on the TMJ more effective.

If you are suffering from TMJ, TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction), persistent neck pain, and/or persistent headaches, an evaluation of your cervical spine and TMJ would be needed.  In addition to adjustments to the cervical spine I also provide manual therapy to the muscles of the TMJ.  Often combining therapy to the cervical spine and TMJ at the same time improves TMJ pain relief, facial pain, neck pain, and temporal headaches.  Please call my office in Roseville, MN near Saint Paul, MN, Arden Hills, MN, Falcon Heights, MN, and Shoreview, MN for an evaluation.