TMJ Therapy Treatment

  • Posted February 24, 2023

WE CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME YOUR PAIN
Say goodbye to jaw clicking, locking and pain!

Are you someone who suffers from jaw pain? Does it hurt to eat, or do you have limited jaw movement? Or perhaps you’re dealing with constant headaches or nagging dull pain? The temporomandibular joint (TMJ), also known as the jaw, is a common source of pain and dysfunction. It is also critical for daily tasks such as: chewing, sucking, swallowing, speaking, facial expression, breathing, opening the mouth. So, when there is impaired function of the TMJ it can be very inconvenient! Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t know where to go to find relief. That’s where knowledgeable manual therapists (such as a chiropractor or physiotherapist familiar with TMJ disorders) can help!

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) can be caused by many different factors. Most commonly, the pain caused by temporomandibular disorders originates from muscular or articular conditions, or both.


When someone’s TMD is due to myofascial/muscular pain they will usually experience tenderness to touch, as well as possible referred pain to other areas of the head or face. This type of pain is often induced by stress-related parafunctional habits (i.e. clenching or grinding). Additionally, it can be the result of poor upper body posture.

Anterior disc displacement (ADD) is the most frequently encountered articular disorder and causes momentary clicking, catching, popping or locking. In the late stages of displacement, the clicking sound disappears and mouth opening becomes very limited.

In order to provide appropriate management for TMD, it is important for your practitioner to understand which structures are causing pain within the jaw joint. (Although some patients may have isolated joint or muscular disorders, many have a component of each).

At Ascent, the practitioners are experienced in examining and diagnosing TMD’s, as well as providing manual and physical therapy for pain relief.  Providing patient education tailored to the condition is also vital to enhance improvement and prevention of future episodes of pain. At Ascent we can also make referrals and collaborate with dental specialists if necessary. We believe in a collaborative approach to care to you can get meaningful results – living pain free again!

Call Ascent to get back to proper jaw function!

It has been proposed that up to 15% of adults are affected by TMJ disorders, with women being twice as likely to experience pain compared to men.

By Dr. Sarah Wheeler, DC

*Originally prepared for March 2023 issue of Neighbours of the Hill

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