TMJD

Many patients come to us with symptoms of TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorder, but don’t actually know what they have. They’ve often been suffering with symptoms for years without a diagnosis or probable cause. The good news is that most TMJ conditions respond well to conservative treatment like chiropractic care, and do not require surgery.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder is often to blame for the most common pain in your jaw or near the ears. The symptoms of TMJD can be both varied and complex:

• Difficulty fully opening the mouth
• Discomfort while chewing
• Clicking or popping of the jaw
• Locking of the jaw
• Pain, tenderness in the jaw
• Aching pain in or around the ear
• Aching facial pain or nearly constant pain
• Headaches
• Uncomfortable bite
• Uneven bite (One or more teeth contact each other before the other teeth do.)

You may be experiencing one or more of these symptoms. And your symptoms may worsen or ease over time. Most patients present with relatively mild forms of the disorder. Sometimes your symptoms may improve significantly over time or disappear spontaneously within weeks or months. For others, the condition causes long-term, relentless, and debilitating pain.

Some patients also have other health problems that co-exist with TMJ disorders, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disturbances or fibromyalgia. These disorders share some common symptoms and may also share similar underlying causes of disease.

Causes of TMJ Pain and Jaw Pain

TMJ disorders can occur for a variety of reasons. And sometimes the source of the problem may not even be the jaw itself. The Journal of Oral Rehabilitation recommends examination of the cervical spine in TMJD patients, even without cervical complaints. These findings are also supported by Cranio and Clinical Oral investigation. At Edina Family Chiropractic, we are trained to examine the neck and jaw to determine the best course of co-managed care with oral health physicians. With proper care and treatment of spinal disorders, TMJD patients can achieve pain relief and correction for your TMJ pain.

Here are some possible causes of TMJ pain and jaw pain:

• Damage to tooth surfaces due to neglect or injury
• Poor alignment of the teeth or jaw when biting or chewing
• Overuse of muscles while chewing
• Frequent gum chewing
• Biting fingernails or pencils
• Teeth grinding
• Jaw clenching habit
• Frequent biting of the cheek or lip
• Thrusting the jaw out while speaking
• Various other frequent actions
• Loose or lost teeth that have led to jaw damage or poor alignment of the upper and lower jaws
• Disk erosion
• Rheumatic disease
• Jaw damaged by a blow or impact
• Cartilage damaged by arthritis
• Trigger points in the muscle tissue cause myofascial pain syndrome
• Infections deep in the jaw
• Tumors

TMJ Pain and Jaw Pain Treatment in Edina, MN

Due to the complex array of factors that cause TMJ pain, it’s best to seek treatment with a highly trained professional. Most TMJ disorders are benign and respond well to chiropractic care. The chiropractors at Edina Family Chiropractic can help determine the cause of your TMJ or jaw pain and symptoms. We can help you decide if chiropractic care for TMJ pain can help you.

Your chiropractic doctor at Edina Family Chiropractic is specially trained to look for the root causes of your jaw pain, neck pain, and headaches. When you visit Edina Family Chiropractic for your TMJ pain evaluation, we’ll take the time to listen to your concerns and you will receive top-notch care.

We’ll have an in-depth consultation about your possible TMJ pain or jaw pain. We’ll listen to the details of your health issue and record your health history. Then we’ll conduct a comprehensive neuromuscular jaw examination. Finally, through a complete analysis and review of the exam findings, we’ll create an individual treatment plan to alleviate your jaw pain. Then you can choose what works best for you before any treatment begins.