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TMJ Disorders
What are TMJ Disorders?
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, affect the joint where your skull meets your lower jaw. Stress, grinding, or clenching your teeth, poor posture, or an injury can cause the joint to become misaligned. You may hear clicking sounds or have pain, stiffness, or a locked jaw.
Healthy Joint
The TM joint is a sliding ball-and-socket joint. When you open and close your mouth, muscles contract and relax. A cushioning disc allows the skull and lower jaw bone to glide smoothly. Ligaments connect the bones and keep the joint stable.
Compressed Joint
When the muscles tighten, the skull and lower jaw are pulled closer together (misaligned). This puts pressure on the joint, compressing the disc.
Injured Joint
An injury, such as a whiplash, can stretch or tear ligaments, which in turn pull the disc out of position.
Arthritic Joint
Arthritis is a degeneration of the joint, often resulting from an injury. The disc wears away, leaving the bones rubbing against and irritating the nerves.
Treatment
Treatment for TMJ disorders centers around reducing pain and restoring normal function to the joint, as well as restoring normal function to the joints of the neck, if indicated. Additional treatment can include the use of physical therapy modalities such as Laser Therapy, heat or ice, massage or jaw exercises.
DISCLAIMER: No individuals, including those under our active care, should use the information, resources or tools contained within to self-diagnose or self-treat any health-related condition. Diagnosis and treatment of all health conditions should only be performed by your doctor of chiropractic or other licensed health care professional.
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