Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD)
TMD can contribute to jaw pain, clicking, headaches, facial tension, and difficulty opening, closing, or using your mouth comfortably.
When jaw symptoms affect daily life
Your temporomandibular joints, often called the TMJ, are the joints on either side of your jaw. Problems involving one or both of these joints are often called temporomandibular dysfunction, or TMD.
TMD can affect more than chewing. Symptoms may show up when you talk, yawn, eat, clench your teeth, sing, play an instrument, or spend time in certain postures.
Common symptoms may include:
- jaw, face, or ear pain
- headaches
- dizziness
- ringing or fullness in the ears
- jaw clicking, popping, grinding, or locking
- loss of jaw mobility
- difficulty opening or closing your mouth
- tension through the face, neck, upper back, or shoulders
These symptoms can be frustrating, especially when they seem connected to more than one area.
How we assess TMD
Your therapist will start by asking about your symptoms, health history, jaw habits, posture, stress, injuries, dental history, and what activities seem to affect your pain or mobility.
Assessment may include your jaw, neck, upper back, shoulders, posture, and movement patterns. This is because jaw symptoms often involve more than the joint itself. The jaw, neck, upper back, and shoulders work closely together, and nerves from the upper neck can influence symptoms around the jaw and face.
Your therapist will explain what they are finding and help you understand what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Treatment may include
Treatment depends on your assessment and goals. Care for TMD may include:
- education about jaw position, habits, and symptom triggers
- manual therapy for the jaw, neck, upper back, or shoulders
- massage techniques for muscles of the face, neck, upper back, and shoulders
- exercises to improve jaw mobility, strength, control, or coordination
- posture and movement strategies
- stress-management or relaxation strategies when clenching is a factor
- acupuncture or dry needling when appropriate
If your symptoms may be related to your teeth, bite, or dental appliance needs, your therapist may recommend follow-up with a dentist, orthodontist, or orofacial surgeon.
What to expect
Your first visit will include a detailed discussion and physical assessment. Your therapist may look at how your jaw opens and closes, how your neck and shoulders move, and whether certain movements, positions, or muscle areas reproduce your symptoms.
Treatment may begin during the first visit, depending on your assessment. You may also receive exercises, self-management strategies, or advice about habits that could be contributing to the problem.
The goal is to help you understand what may be driving your symptoms, reduce irritation where possible, and improve comfort with the daily activities that use your jaw.
