What is TMJ? The temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) is your jaw joint, located just below and in front of your ear. It is formed by the mandible (jaw bone) and the temporal bone of the skull, with a cartilage disc separating these bones, acting as a cushion and shock absorber. This joint is crucial for everyday activities like yawning, speaking, eating, and breathing, making it one of the most used joints in the body and thus prone to injury and disorder.
Understanding TMJ and TMD
What is TMJ Disorder? Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) encompass various clinical problems affecting the muscles of mastication (feeding), the TMJ, and related structures. Approximately 60-70% of the Australian population is affected by TMD, often experiencing jaw pain, facial pain, ear pain, neck pain, and headaches. Common causes include stress-induced teeth clenching or grinding (bruxism), prolonged dental work, trauma, and inflammatory conditions.
Signs and Symptoms of TMD
TMJ-related pain can be varied, diffuse, and debilitating. Symptoms can include:
- Tenderness or pain in the chewing muscles or the joint itself
- Pain when chewing, clenching, yawning, or during dental work
- Facial or head pain, often worse in the morning
- Limited or restricted jaw movement
- Clicking, popping, grating, crunching, locking, and stiffness in the jaw joint
- Uncoordinated, asymmetrical, or deviated jaw movements
- Headache
- Nonodontogenic toothache (pain not originating from tooth pathology)
- Earache
- Sinus pain/facial pressure
- Associated neck/shoulder stiffness and pain
- Diminished auditory acuity (hearing loss)
- Tinnitus
- Dizziness
- Changing occlusion (teeth not meeting correctly)
- Difficulty swallowing
Causes of TMD
TMD can result from:
- Joint trauma (e.g., a blow to the face/jaw)
- Stretching the jaw during prolonged dental work or intubation
- Bruxism (clenching and grinding)
- Orthodontic treatment/dental restoration causing inadequate or altered occlusion
- Arthritic conditions
- Generalised hypermobility
- Prolonged poor posture
- Whiplash-associated disorder (WAD)
- Sleep apnea
How We Can Help
At Sunshine Coast Health Services, we specialize in managing TMD and orofacial pain through a holistic and biopsychosocial approach. Our treatment methods are evidence-based and tailored to each individual’s needs, ensuring comprehensive care.
Our Services Include:
- Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques to improve jaw and neck mechanics and function.
- Intra and Extraoral Myofascial Release: Techniques to relieve tension and improve muscle function.
- Dry Needling: Targeting trigger points to reduce pain and muscle tension.
- Rehabilitation Exercises: Customized exercises to enhance TMJ and neck range of motion and stability.
- Posture Re-education: Guidance on maintaining proper posture to prevent recurrence of symptoms.
- Psychoeducation and Self-Management Techniques: Education and tools to help you manage your condition independently. This may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) interventions and psychophysiological strategies to regulate your nervous system towards optimal recovery.
Why Choose Us?
We are passionate about addressing the underlying causes of your symptoms. Our approach integrates education, advice, and manual therapy with self-care exercises to resolve pain and prevent its recurrence. We collaborate closely with GPs, dentists, endodontists, psychologists, neurologists, and other specialists to provide coordinated and comprehensive care.
Referring Your Patients
Refer your patients to us if they exhibit any signs and symptoms of TMD, have undergone prolonged dental procedures, show parafunctional orofacial habits, experience frequent headaches or unexplained dizziness, or have persistent pain not accounted for by another condition. Together, we can navigate the complexities of TMD and orofacial pain, providing the best possible care and improving patient outcomes. For more information or to discuss a referral, please contact us at Sunshine Coast Health Services.
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