Chronic teeth clenching and grinding is a concern for many of our patients. Sometimes patients are unaware of these habits, other times they are consciously aware of the problem but are not sure how to stop it.

Based on a retrospective study of treatment outcomes in 2011, we can postulate that physiotherapy is effective at increasing active range of motion for people who identify as TMD sufferers. 

Definitions of some common diagnostic terms for dentists

Basic Assessment Tests for Dentists

According to the International Headache Society there are over 230 different classifications of headaches all with different presentations and symptom sets. 

Optometrists are front line campaigners in the management of headaches and have a unique skill set that allows them to accurately diagnose whether the visual field is compromised, leading to headaches.

The Headache Neck & Jaw Clinic was recently asked by a group of audiologists how jaw and neck physiotherapy can help clients with tinnitus. 

All central signs must be tested for before a diagnosis of BPPV can be made. This includes testing the Oculomotor, Balance and Vestibular Ocular Reflex systems, as well as screening for Vertebral Artery Insufficiency and Upper Cervical instabilities.

It is important to have a good understanding of how tender to palpation the posterior capsule is, as it can help differentiate the cause of pain between occlusal issues and poor motor control.  

The Pterygoids role is to stabilise the condyle in the socket as it rotates and translates forward and then to act as a decelerator when the jaw closes to guide the condyle back into its resting place. 

The tongue is responsible for maintaining breathing airways, moving food around in the mouth, swallowing and talking. It plays no role in moving the jaw.

C01 and C23 play an intricate role in cervicogenic headache and although a loss of range of motion is not definitively linked to headaches, it is a good indicator that it is involved.