Chiropractic Care for TMJ, Jaw Pain, Clicking and Locking of the Jaw Joint
Problems with the articulations of your jaw, otherwise known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ for short, can manifest in a variety of symptoms. Some patients experience discomfort or pain in or around the area where the jaw meets the skull, right in front of the ear. Due to the proximity of the joint to nerves traveling through the area, some patients will get earaches, hearing disturbances, and even dizziness, because the inner ear can affect balance. Other patients can even have problems chewing and speaking due to the altered movement of the joints of the jaw. Headaches are another common symptoms associated with TMJ disorders.
Many times a patient’s dentist will be the first person to identify and treat a TMJ issue. Sometimes it can be related to a bite alignment malposition. Other times it can be related to grinding the teeth at night, which irritates the joint and causes inflammation. If that is the case, often times a custom mouth guard can be created for use at night. This helps prevent the grinding and puts the mouth into better alignment, relieving pressure from the TMJ articulations. Occasionally, these approaches do not fully rectify the problem, and further treatment is necessary.
Chiropractic Care Work Mechanics of Jaw and Neck
Often times when a patient visits our office with TMJ pain, they also have a problem in the cervical spine, or neck, as well. Due to the mechanics of the jaw and neck, and the way the muscles work together, these areas are intricately related. Our approach involves not only gently releasing the joints and muscles of the jaw, but also to make sure the joints and muscles of the neck are working smoothly as well. Sometimes a postural issue is to blame for the dysfunction occurring in the neck and TMJ. In those cases physical therapy is important to help strengthen and stabilize the area. If you are suffering from any of these issues, or have had limited success in treating your TMJ problem, give us a call today to schedule an evaluation to see if we can help.
WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR TEAM:
At Superior Spine Care we are proud of our patient relationships and the excellent reviews they leave us. We look forward to providing you with the same 5-star level of chiropractic, massage, physical therapy or acupuncture care!
HEALTH SERVICES AT SUPERIOR SPINE CARE:
CHIROPRACTIC
As a Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Neil Wensink has years of training and experience in spinal adjustments and manipulation and provides advanced spinal correction combining state of the art chiropractic techniques with traditional tried and true methods. Never in the history of chiropractic have we been able to provide the level of help and expertise that now exists. These newer correction methods are more effective and more comfortable than ever before.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage therapy aids in patients’ rehabilitation by focusing on manipulating and realigning the deepest layer of muscles and connective tissue. It is the most beneficial therapy to release chronic muscle spasms. At Superior Spine Care we provide specific massage and muscular therapy tailored to meet the patient’s condition and injury. The benefits of massage therapy include increased blood circulation, reduced swelling, relaxed muscles and pain relief.
Learn More About Therapeutic Massage Treatments and Techniques
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Physical Therapy is the treatment or management of physical disability, movement, malfunction, or pain, without the use of medicine or surgery. With many years of experience and continuing education, Chrissy employs a variety of different physical therapy modalities to personalize your treatment program with a specialty in using Myofascial Release Technique to help alleviate acute and chronic pain.
ACUPUNCTURE
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese-based approach to treating a variety of health conditions. It works by triggering different points on the skin with small, one-time use, stainless steel micro-filament needles. It is based on the idea that a blockage, or disturbance, in the body’s flow of Qi (pronounced as “chee”) can cause heath issues. Dr. Chester Dickerson, Superior Spine Care’s Licensed Acupuncturist, Therapist, inserts thin needles at specific points to help with pain relief and restore proper energy flow.
