Chiropractics and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain

 

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Pain is a general term covering acute or chronic pain and/or inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the mandible to the skull. The disorder and resultant dysfunction can result in significant pain, which is the most common TMJ symptom, combined with impairment of function. Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorder vary in their presentation.

On average the symptoms will involve more than one of the numerous TMJ components: muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, bones, connective tissue, and the teeth. Ear pain associated with the swelling of proximal tissue is a symptom of TMJ disorder. Symptoms associated with TMJ disorders include; biting or chewing difficulty or discomfort, clicking, popping, or grating sound when opening or closing the mouth, dull, aching pain in the face, ear ache (particularly in the morning), headache (particularly in the morning), hearing loss, migraine (particularly in the morning), jaw pain or tenderness of the jaw, reduced ability to open or close the mouth, tinnitus, neck and shoulder pain, and dizziness. Due to the proximity of the upper cervical area and the TMJ, many symptoms can be related to both structures.

Chiropractic evaluation and adjustments will determine the origin of the symptoms and correct any misalignments in the upper cervical spine and the TMJ.