Dealing with TMJ

Do you experience any of the following: 

• Tenderness of the jaw 
• Jaw pain or soreness
• Jaw pain when chewing, biting, or yawning
• Difficulty opening or closing jaw
• Click or popping noises when opening the jaw
• Pain in or around your ear

If you encounter any of these, you may be dealing with Temporomandibular disorder, also known as TMJ. Millions of Americans deal with TMJ as it is a common non-dental challenge.  

When you come to see a physical therapist, we start by evaluating and observing. We will spend time looking at the upper portion of your spine, near your neck, and figure out how well the jaw is functioning, checking for any abnormalities. We will then carefully evaluate your jaw movement and examine the muscles, disc, and joints. 

When you come to see us, our goal is to decrease the pain you are experiencing and restore your jaw's natural movement. We do this through various treatment methods. Carefully selected jaw and neck exercises, dry needling, and joint manipulation are some of the treatments that are most helpful for TMJ.