Jaw pain, clicking and TMJ
A jaw that clicks, locks or aches, often with headaches and neck tension alongside.
What is tmj?
The temporomandibular joints connect the jaw to the skull just in front of the ears. TMJ disorders involve pain or dysfunction in those joints and the muscles that move them, and they often travel with clenching, grinding, stress, neck tension and headaches. It is one of the most common reasons people from Meridian and across the Treasure Valley come to see us.
TMJ is an abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint which connects the mandibular, or your lower jaw, to the temporal bones of the skull. The TMJ is one of the more unique joints within your body as it allows you to move your jaw forward, backward, and side to side so that you can chew, talk, sing, yawn, and more. This joint can be found just in front of your ears on both sides of your head.
Any problem with the muscles, ligaments, discs, bones, or the joint itself are known as temporomandibular disorders or TMD and refers to the actual disorder, where the jaw joint is misaligned and causing problems such as pain, inflammation, and inability to move or operate the jaw. However, these problems or conditions are often incorrectly called by the joint name of TMJ instead.
Why does it keep coming back?
The jaw, upper neck and nervous system are tightly linked, so a neurologically based exam looks at all three rather than the jaw on its own.
How we look at it at Bonfire
The first visit is the same careful process whatever brought you in: a nerve scan with a chiropractic assistant, then your history, a thorough exam with the doctor, and X-rays the same day. Visit two is the report of findings, where you hear what was found and what care could look like, before your first adjustment.
What does care involve?
Care may involve gentle work on the jaw and the upper neck, guidance on clenching and stress, and coordination with your dentist where a night guard or dental assessment is appropriate.
Questions about tmj
Should I see a dentist or a chiropractor?
Often both. Dental causes such as bite problems are the dentist's domain; the joint, the muscles and the neck are where chiropractic care comes in.
Does stress cause TMJ?
Stress commonly drives clenching and grinding, which load the joint. It is one of the stressors we look for.
This page is general education, not medical advice. Individual results vary. Talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your own situation, and never stop a prescribed medication without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.