Jaw Pain
Patients with TMJ problems often complain of jaw, head or facial pain, jaw clicking, stiffness or locking, chipped or worn teeth, headaches, ringing in the ears, jaw weakness, and problems with chewing, singing, or nocturnal teeth grinding/ clenching. Often, the patient will also have discomfort in surrounding areas such as the neck, and as such – they are treated together!
TMJ assessment and diagnosis is a specialised area of Physiotherapy. Your Physiotherapist will do a full assessment of your jaw and neck. They will assess the range that you can open your mouth, and how the jaw feels as you do this. They will also look for symmetry of movement, assess facial muscle strength and the specific path that the jaw takes when opening and closing. Moreover, as the jaw receives over 80% of its inputs from the neck, your physio will also assess your overall posture considering a wide range of factors including head tilt, dentition, job requirements, and any other symptoms (headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears etc). Treatment often includes specific manual therapy techniques of the jaw, mouth and neck and will often include home exercises or stretches, as well as posture correction. In some instances we may recommend returning to your dentist for an assessment to ensure that the teeth are well aligned, or for an opinion on splints to help unload the jaw overnight. The physios at City Physio often work in conjunction with Dentists, Dental Prosthetist’s, and Orthodontists to achieve the best outcomes for our patients.