TMJ, JAW, and FACIAL PAIN

Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)

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These disorders are problems of the jaw joint or Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ), the jaw muscles, and the associated nerves of the face and neck. They can arise from a variety of places such as: trauma, car accidents, stress, and lifestyle habits.

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Symptoms

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-Pain when opening the mouth or chewing

-Clicking

-Locking of the jaw

-Tension and pain in the cheek, jaw, or temple

-Neck tension and pain

-Headaches

-Pain in or around the ears

-Tinnitis (ringing/buzzing in the ear)

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Physiotherapy Management

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In order to deal with TMD, the root cause of the pain needs to be determined with a thorough assessment of:

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-Range of motion in the jaw

-Strength

-Joint condition (popping, clicking, locking)

-Paraoral function (jaw habits)

-Sleep (quantity & quality)

-Grinding or clenching

-Sleep appliance (mouth guard, etc.)

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Once the causes are determined, then individualized self management strategies will be determined. A therapeutic exercise program will be given to address the limitations which were discovered, and symptom relief can be achieved using a combination of Manual Therapy and IMS if appropriate. These are further described HERE.

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