The jaw or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has been shown to be a source of pain and dysfunction in 33% of the population. Some TMJ related issues can include pain in the jaw with eating, clicking, popping, and grating. Sometimes people will have jaws that lock open or closed. Sometimes this discomfort can lead to head, neck, and shoulder pain. People suffering from TMJ related issues often have problems finding the right person to help them because training in this area is limited. Typically, people are given a poorly adjusted night guard, which can make the problem worse.
We have specialized training in TMJ Rehabilitation
Jeremy has had great success in treating patients with TMJ dysfunction because he looks at the body as a whole. You’ve probably heard the song that goes something like “the knee bone is connected to the hip bone.” The TMJ doesn’t function in isolation separate from the rest of the body. It works as a system with the rest of the body, and it can affect other parts of the body- causing neck pain, shoulder pain, or headaches. If the neck is functioning better, TMJ dysfunction can be relieved, and vice versa.
Some patients only need physical therapy treatment to their spine which can relieve the stress on their TMJ. In some cases, a dentist who specializes in the treatment of TMJ dysfunction is needed in addition to the physical therapy. These specialized dentists will address your occlusion (the way your teeth fit together), because your teeth can be responsible for holding your jaw in a poor position. Physical therapy is a great compliment to dental TMJ treatment. In many cases once the occlusion is corrected, the need for physical therapy is greatly reduced. If you are someone who needs a dental specialist involved, Jeremy will be able to tell you and get you to the right person as soon as possible.