Your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is formed where your jawbone connects to the temporal bone of your skull. The joint works as a gliding hinge that allows for optimal range of motion. The bones of the TMJ are covered with cartilage and separated by a small disc that absorbs shock and promotes smooth movement.
The TMJ enables you to talk, chew, yawn, sing and open and close your mouth. Sometimes the TMJ becomes painful, and it may even freeze up, making it difficult to open and move your mouth. Disorders of the TMJ most often stem from overuse of the muscles surrounding the joint, or from postural issues that affect the alignment of the upper body, neck and jaw.
It is not difficult to recognize disorders of the TMJ, although jaw pain can have other origins, and can even be a symptom of heart attack. Common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction include:
In most cases, TMJ disorders arise from overuse, where the muscles that move the jaw become fatigued or tight from chewing or stress. However, poor posture or excessive use of electronic devices can create misalignments in the upper body that affect TMJ function.
A medical history and physical exam can help determine if your jaw pain stems from TMJ dysfunction. Your doctor may listen to your jaw as it moves and palpate the jaw area to pinpoint pain and tenderness.
At NYDNR, we use real-time diagnostic ultrasound, which enables us to view the TMJ in motion. Ultrasound gives us clear images of the TMJ and surrounding tissue, to help us identify the specific source of pain. Dr. Kalika, our clinical director, is a trained and certified expert in diagnostic ultrasonography.
Traditional treatment for TMJ pain may include muscle relaxants, pain relievers, injections or surgery. However, physical therapy can help correct the underlying causes of TMJ pain without the expense, side effects and discomfort of medical treatment.
TMJ pain often stems from tight muscles and connective tissues. Manual massage therapy can help stretch and relax tight jaw muscles, relieving pain and restoring function.
Posture Correction/RetainingPostural issues in the upper spine and neck can cause your TMJ to become misaligned, leading to pain and dysfunction. Corrective physical therapy exercises and learning better postural habits can save your spine and jaw from pain and dysfunction as you age.
Chiropractic CareGentle chiropractic treatment can help restore TMJ alignment and reestablish vital brain-body neural connections.
If you are suffering from TMJ pain and dysfunction, our team of experienced professionals can help. Our TMJ doctors with non-invasive drug-free approach is geared to resolving the underlying causes of your TMJ pain, so you can get back to enjoying life to the fullest.
TMD is a set of related pathological changes, which produce musculoskeletal symptoms in the jaw. The term TMD is deliberately broad and is only used to organize a variety of dysfunctions and disorders that result in abnormal function of the muscles and joints of the jaws.
In order to understand TMD and Orofacial pain the clear definition of Temporo-Mandibular complex must be laid out. Temporo-Mandibular complex is an indelible part of the locomotor system responsible for such vital functions like chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing. It includes mandible (lower jaw) bilaterally articulated with the maxilla (upper jaw) by highly versatile Temporo-Mandibular joints (TMJs). The skeletal infrastructure is powered by masticators (chewing muscles), which depress, elevate, protrude and retract the lower jaw. The lower jaw is the main movable component of the Temporo-Mandibular system. Supra- and infra- hyoid muscles, which assist the hyoid bone in its various movements, are closely connected with the above-described functionality. Last, but not least, another important element of Temporo-Mandibular system is the cervical segment of the spine, which is intimately linked to the functioning of the orofacial system. Of utmost importance is the fact that Temporo-Mandibular complex represents an integral part of the whole Locomotor system, meaning that TMJ movement is controlled by the same neurological mechanisms that control any movement in the body.
Temporo-Mandibular system is densely innervated and its motor control is provided through the integration of stimuli projected from various receptors within the oral cavity, cervical proprioceptors, and receptors located in the nasopharyngeal and gastro-esophageal areas. Sensory input coming from visual, auditory and vestibular areas also affect the function of Temporo-Mandibular system. Not least important is the association of the respiratory system with Temporo-Mandibular functionality. Integration of all of these stimuli with the input coming from muscles and joints of entire Locomotor system, provide the neurological basis for motor control of the Temporo-Mandibular complex.
Temporo-Mandibular system is one of the most active and powerful structures of human body. It works during the day and while we are asleep. Due to the massive continuous workload and considerable forces exerted by its components it is a subject to breakdowns. Fortunately for the patient the Temporo-Mandibular system is very resilient and capable of self-repair when a proper treatment is administered.
Causes of Orofacial pain arising from within the Temporo-Mandibular system:
Diagnosed TMDs fall into three basic etiological categories:
The first category belongs to pure myofascial etiology resulting strictly from hypertonicity of muscle of mastication and muscles of the cervical spine.
The second category is a mixed etiology. Hypertonicity of masticatory muscles in conjunction with some degree of intra-articular TMJ dysfunction (hypo- or hypermobility in one or both joints, with or without periarticular adhesions).
Resulting from true intra-articular pathology with locking of the jaw.
It must be mentioned that mixed etiology includes various contributing factors listed above.
TMDs of any etiology in general seldom require a surgical intervention. Historical research data has shown that jaw repositioning (one of the common measures taken in combating TMDs in adults) has failed to yield any significant improvement in the recovery ratio. It is a risky and expensive procedure that seems to have been developed by creative dental specialists out of desperation due to the lack of better, scientifically proven alternatives. Such dental measures like occlusal grinding, expensive crowns and bridges, and full mouth restorative procedures also lack sufficient statistical evidence proving them to be effective as cure of TMDs. However, TMJ custom made appliances based on radiographic positioning in combination with specific TMJ physical therapy or chiropractic has proven to be the most effective measures in treatment of TMJ pain disorders.
Conditions from Categories 1 and 2 (see above) fall into the field of neuromuscular therapy , such as chiropractic or physical therapy specializing in TMJ treatment. Special attention has to be devoted to dysfunction in the Locomotor system as a whole because the local manual approach alone may not be sufficient. Treatment of the entire Locomotor system is necessary to avoid recovery delay and subsequent chronicity. This is especially the reason why intraoral appliances, such as dental splints, should only be used in conjunction with neuromuscular physiotherapy or as a supplemental home therapy to consolidate the recovery achieved by the neuromuscular treatment. Over the counter splints can be tried at first before committing to more expensive custom made appliances.
TMDs caused by intra-articular pathology (category 3) require close cooperation between orthodontist or maxillofacial surgeon and neuromuscular specialist. The world’s scientific authority recommends treating these cases conservatively until maximum improvement is achieved before committing to surgery. At present about fifty percent of such cases are managed without any orthodontic or orthoghnathic surgical intervention. At this stage custom made appliances is a must. Only when long rehabilitative approach with specific TMJ physical therapy has failed surgical intervention may be considered. It must be up to the neuromuscular specialist to make a sound judgment, based on good clinical skills and clear understanding of structural pathology of the TMJ, whether the conservative care is no longer effective and refer the patient for surgical consultation.
Although, most of TMJ pain disorders are self-limiting, they could generate excruciating pain and cause significant distress to the patient. Improper TMJ treatment can lead to chronicity, emotional distress and create a devastating impact on the patients’ quality of life. When chronic TMJ pain is present pain medication and neuromuscular therapy may not be sufficient. Meditation, relaxation and referral to a psychosocial specialist or a pain clinic may be warranted.
At DNR’s office located in Manhattan, Midtown we use comprehensive TMJ treatment approach consisted from specialized TMJ physical therapy exercises such as Roccabado and others well-accepted protocols. Manual intraoral TMJ therapy we use in our NYC facility is combined with cranial osteopathy. TMJ function is intimately related to function of the cervical spine and shoulder girdle. We use DNS ( dynamic neuromuscular stabilization ) approach to restore functional connections between masticatory muscles and cervicocranial and scapulomandibular muscles. We use soft tissue mobilization techniques to address deep cervical fascia and its interconnection with craniomamdibular system. For myofascial trigger points in temporo mandibular and cervical muscles we use low energy ESWT devise and cold laser, which are quite hard to find even in New York.
TMJ pain can become chronic and resistant to treatment if professionals who specialize in TMJ therapy do not timely address it.
