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Depending on the cause of a patient's TMJ pain, there is a range of treatment options available.
Your temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull. It lets you move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn. Problems with your jaw and the muscles in your face that control it are known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
The TMJ joint is the most highly used joint in the body, talking, eating, yawning can lead to the mouth opening up to a thousand times a day. As such, like any other joint in the body it can fatigue or be injured. Joint mechanics, ligaments and controlling the joint or muscles moving the joint can all be affected causing pain and other symptoms.
What are the common symptoms of TMD?
Common symptoms of TMD include:
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Jaw pain with eating
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Jaw locking
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Clicking with jaw opening
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Bruxism (clenching/grinding)
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Malocclusion
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Headaches
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Neck pain
At Queensland Physio Group we take a multidisciplinary approach to TMD treatment and when applicable work closely with your Dentist to resolve all symptoms. Travis Drummond has presented to the Australian Dental Association Gold Coast sub branch on this approach.
What's involved in treating TMD?
We will investigate and treat both the Primary and Secondary causes of your TMD symptoms which includes the joint mechanics, ligaments and muscles controlling and moving the jaw.
Physiotherapy intervention may include:
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Internal or external TMJ mobilisations
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Internal or external muscle release techniques (Pterygoid muscles/Masseter, Temporalis and sternocleidomastoid musculature
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Cervical spine mobilisations
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Education and exercise