TMJ/TMD Treatment in Fayetteville, AR — One-on-One Care with a Doctor of Physical Therapy

TMJ dysfunction (TMD) Treatment - overview, symptoms

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge that connects your jaw to your skull. When that joint is injured or damaged, it can lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).

TMD can cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and surrounding areas. There are several factors that can cause TMD:

1. Jaw misalignment: An abnormal alignment of the jaw joint can contribute to TMD. This can be due to issues with the alignment of the teeth or the bite.
2. Jaw muscle problems: Excessive muscle tension or spasms in the muscles that control jaw movement can lead to TMD. This can be caused by factors like stress, teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism), or habitual jaw clenching.
3. Trauma or injury: Direct trauma to the jaw joint or the muscles around it, such as from a blow to the face or whiplash injury, can trigger TMD symptoms.
4. Arthritis: Inflammatory conditions like arthritis can affect the TMJ and contribute to TMD symptoms.

Symptoms:

• Pain or tenderness in your jaw, especially when opening your mouth wide
• Pain in and around your ear
• Difficulty chewing
• Facial, neck, and/or ear pain
• Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
• Clicking, popping or grinding in your jaw joint

TMJ/TMD treatment options

Physical therapy is an excellent treatment option. Our skilled doctors of physical therapy will assess your jaw to determine the cause of your pain. They may also assess nearby body areas, such as the neck and shoulders. 

What does physical therapy treatment for TMJ dysfunction look like?

At Rise we'll work to help you restore the natural movement of your jaw and decrease your pain. Based on your condition, your therapist will select treatments that will work best for you. Your treatments may include:

• Posture education: Your physical therapist will teach you to be aware of your posture so that you can improve the resting position of your jaw, head, neck, breastbone, and shoulder blades when you’re sitting and walking.
• Improving jaw movement: Physical therapists use skilled hands-on techniques (manual therapy) to gently increase movement and relieve pain in tissues and joints. Your physical therapist may use hands-on techniques to stretch the jaw in order to restore normal joint and muscle flexibility.
• Your physical therapist will teach you special “low-load” exercises that don’t exert a lot of pressure on your TMJ and will work to restore a more natural, pain-free motion.
• Referral to a dentist: If needed, your physical therapist can refer you to a dentist who specializes in TMJ dysfunction, who can correct the alignment with special appliances such as “bite guards” that create a natural resting position to relax the TMJ, relieve pain, and improve jaw function

Our ultimate goal is that you leave your first PT session with exercises to start decreasing your jaw pain in the short term, and learn how to prevent TMD from coming back in the future.