Click. Pop. Pain. A Guide To TMJ Dysfunction

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By Martha Theirl, PT, DPT

 

If you’ve ever had jaw pain, you know how frustrating it can be to have pain with talking, chewing, or when waking in the morning. Below we discuss jaw anatomy, symptoms, causes, and how physical therapy can help.

 

The Jaw Anatomy

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The jaw is a hinge joint located just in front of your ear. You can find it by placing your fingers just in front of the tragus (the little ear flap in front of the ear canal). If you then open and close your jaw- slowly and only what’s not painful or symptomatic for you- you can feel the jaw joint move below your finger.

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It has a disc that separates the head of the mandible (lower jaw) from the mandibular fossa. This disc moves forward as the jaw opens, and back as the jaw closes.

Muscles such as the masseter, pterygoids, and neck muscles all play a role in the opening and closing of the jaw. It’s paramount that these muscles are functioning well and have stability during their use.

 

 

Symptoms And What They Mean

 Popping/Clicking

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            This is likely caused from a disc problem in the jaw. Often heard during a movement, this may mean the disc is slipping in and out of place as the mouth opens and closes.

             An alternative reason (and why it’s important to get in front of a practitioner who understands the jaw) is too much motion in the joint and a lack of stability and control of the jaw during movement. This often presents with excessive movement of the jaw joint that can feels like one side is coming into your finger more than the other side.

 

Locking

                If you also have locking of the jaw, or it feels like your jaw “gets stuck” then it may mean you have displacement of the disc and it is having difficulty moving back into where it should be. This causes the joint to temporarily stop moving since the glide point is no longer where it needs to be. If you’ve ever experienced a locked jaw, or one that just won’t open or close, it can be a bit alarming. However, with some work and time it can resolve without surgery.

 

How Physical Therapy Can Help

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            PT for my jaw pain? Yup! Physical Therapists work closely with your dentist as well as other medical professionals to provide fully comprehensive care. Have a night guard? Bring it with you so we can see how it fits and how it’s being worn down. Depending on the examination and identification of the problem, we will set a course forward that surrounds your goals.

            Let’s say we identify that your jaw is having difficulty moving. We’d use a combination of manual therapy techniques- yes, I put my hand in your mouth! (don’t worry- there’s gloves involved)- and exercise. We want to gain mobility and then back it up using specific exercises based on what you need. These include static holds, pressure against opening, and side to side movements.

            If we need to make the joint feel more secure, we’ll work on strength and support of the jaw and neck muscles. A full neck and shoulder assessment is also done to ensure we are putting our efforts into the most needed areas.

            Many times a focus is also put on sleep and recovery as well as stress management. It’s important not to forget these aspects as they play an integral role in the cause and the treatment of jaw and neck pain.

 

 Often people will endure jaw or neck pain for months or years before seeking treatment. It’s never to late to start- no one should have to think twice about singing in the car or eating his or her favorite meal!

 

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 Have questions as to whether or not PT is right for you? Either fill out this form or contact us at 508-614-9499 for a free phone consultation.

*Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes and is not intended to be specific medical advice. Please consult a professional to address your personal needs.