TMJ Treatment
The Headache, Neck and Jaw Clinic are specialists in TMJ treatments that aim to reduce and resolve acute and chronic jaw pain conditions.
Treatment for TMJ and Jaw Pain
The jaw is one of the most complex joints in your body. When it’s injured or something goes wrong, the pain in your jaw, face and head can be severe.
At the Headache, Neck and Jaw Clinic, our physiotherapists are trained to assess and treat a wide range of jaw pain conditions. If you have TMJ pain, jaw injuries, acute or chronic pain, we can help.
We are experts in treating jaw conditions. We recognise that jaw pain is multifactorial, and can assess whether the TMJs are dysfunctional, if the pain is due to external muscular issues, neural sensitivity, a neck problem, or a combination of factors.
Book your appointment to find out more about TMJ treatment. Our physiotherapy team can reduce pain and inflammation and design a treatment plan just for you.
How We Can Help With TMJ Treatment and Recovery
Physiotherapy is effective in treating TMJ and jaw pain. Our TMJ treatments are designed to relieve the initial symptoms and fix the underlying problem to assist in the recovery of your joint. In some cases, this may require working with other healthcare professionals.
Our physiotherapists conduct a complete assessment and set out a full treatment, education and exercise program.
Treatment may include a combination of passive joint mobilisation, spinal manipulation and exercises. Dry Needling or laser treatment may be applied to help relieve the symptoms. These treatments aim to resolve any dysfunction, strengthen the joint, muscles and ligaments, and reduce pain.
We’ll explain your treatment plan in detail. This helps us collaborate with you on what’s required, exercises and a program of appointments that can treat your TMJ and jaw pain.
TMJ and Jaw Pain Conditions We Treat
- Pain or tenderness of the jaw
- Clicking jaw: Anteriorly Displaced Disk with reduction
- Restricted opening
- Post Arthrocentesis rehabilitation
- Facial reconstructions
- Jaw replacements
- Grinding teeth: bruxism
- Facial & ear pain
- Locked jaw: Anteriorly displaced disk without reduction
- Persistent tooth pain not responding to dental treatment
- Bells Palsy/Ramsay Hunt syndrome
- Arthritis/Arthralgia (jaw joint pain)
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
What is the TMJ or Temporo-Mandibular Joint?
The Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) are the joints that connect your jawbone to your skull. TMJs act like a sliding hinge, allowing your jaw to open and shut, as well as to move front-to-back and side-to-side.
The jaw is one of our most used body parts. It’s involved with eating, talking, breathing and most importantly, expressing our feelings and emotions. Humans have also found other uses for it, including chewing gum, holding items and opening bottles!
Because the TMJ is important and can be exposed to hard use, it tends to hurt when things go wrong. These pains can arise from issues in the bone, muscle, connective tissue or any combination of the three.
This presents as pain in the jaw, face, ears and head, as well as a range of other problems. The pain you experience may range from mild to severe, but a trained physiotherapist can provide effective treatment.
What To Expect From Our Assessment
Comprehensive Examination
As part of our examination, we listen to your story and discuss your pain, symptoms and any jaw and joint injuries you have.
Hands-On Assessment
We’ll perform a complete assessment of your jaw to identify dysfunction and help our physiotherapists design a treatment.
Symptom Relief
Our physiotherapists use specific treatments to improve jaw mobility, reduce pain and strengthen the joint and muscles.
Patient Education
We can answer any questions and provide advice on managing your pain, recovering from injuries and changing your habits.
Reach Out To Us!
Get in touch with us today for more information on our services or to make an appointment with our friendly team.
Ready To Book Online?
Book your appointment online today! Our TMJ treatment plans can help with managing pain, reducing symptoms and assisting you in your recovery.
Normal TMJ Rotation and Translation
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Anterior Disc Displacement With Reduction
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Frequently Asked Questions
TMJ dysfunctions are a range of conditions relating to your jaw joint, as well as its surrounding muscles and ligaments. TMJ dysfunctions can make it difficult to open and close your mouth. They may also cause pain in the jaw, face, ears and head.
Dysfunction in your jaw joint can contribute to acute and chronic headaches. Talk to the Headache, Neck and Jaw Clinic to find out more.
TMJ and jaw pain can present as mild to severe pain in the jaw, face, ears and head. Other common symptoms include:
- Pain or tenderness of the jaw
- Headache
- Facial pain
- Ear pain, ringing in the ear
- Dizziness
- Difficulty in chewing
- Locking of the jaw
- Clicking sound or grating sensation when opening the mouth or chewing
Treating these symptoms can control acute and chronic jaw pain, reduce inflammation and prevent the issue from recurring.
TMJ dysfunction can be caused by many factors, and/or a combination of factors. Common causes include:
- Dislocated or broken jaw
- Other injuries to the jaw
- Teeth grinding and clenching
- Arthritis in the jaw joint
- Teeth fitting improperly in your jaw
- Excessive stress
Some of these causes are lifestyle factors that can be controlled by changing your habits. Other factors are unavoidable, and you may need treatment from a physiotherapist to help your TMJs recover.