What is TMJ pain?
TMJ pain is the tenderness of the temporomandibular joint. This can be the result of trauma, malocclusion, muscle imbalance, postural imbalance or all of these.
Why Physical Therapy and Dentistry?
How you open and close your mouth is the result of the action of the joint on either side of your jaw, the muscles of the jaw and tongue, and the relationship of your teeth as they meet. As these all work together, a change in one part will cause a change in the function of the other parts.
Your Dentist attends to problems of the teeth and jaw, while the Physical Therapist works to restore the muscles and joints to good health and function.
You or your Dentist have identified a problem you may be having with your tongue, jaw, neck or shoulders, which may benefit from Physical Therapy treatment.
How does it restrict opening the mouth?
The inability to obtain full functional opening of the mouth may be related specifically to the TM joint or involve shortened muscles used in chewing.
Do you know what causes clinking jaw?
Any "noise" coming from a joint is abnormal. It can indicate rough joint surfaces, a hypomobile joint or disc and probable muscle coordination or imbalance.
Head, Neck or Shoulder pain may be coming from your mouth?
This can be related to TM joint dysfunction with associated muscles shortening postural imbalance, and restriction of small nerves about the head and neck.
What is muscle dysfunction?
The shortening of one or more muscles results in a visible postural defect or as a complaint of unusual muscle fatigue or ache. It can involve the facial, jaw or neck muscles.