Chiropractor for TMJ?

It is estimated that 30% of the population suffer from TMJ dysfunction or from one of the many symptoms that a problem with the jaw can create. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is where the jaw bone joins the skull. Problems or dysfunction of this joint can result in jaw pain, jaw clicking, headaches, sinus problems and even loss of hearing! Many people suffer needlessly for years, seeking opinion after opinion, not knowing how to address this painful and problematic condition.

Jessie’s story started just that way. When she came to our office, she had been suffering with jaw pain and neck stiffness for many years. She told me it was terrible to wake up not knowing if her jaw would lock up and cause a migraine all day long again. You see, she had stopped taking the various pain killers her doctor had prescribed. They never really worked and she was tired of the years of “fogginess” her medications had caused.


What were her doctors missing? Why does the TMJ pose such a problem for so many? The causes of a TMJ dysfunction are almost always physical. What does that mean? Well, a comprehensive approach to TMJ must include a look at the tracking of the jaw, the muscles that act upon the jaw, the disc that helps the jaw glide against the skull, and the nerves that control the muscles of the jaw. Lifestyle changes are often in order as well.

What causes tracking disorders? One way is with direct trauma to the jaw, knocking it out of alignment and causing all kinds of trouble. Auto accidents, sports injuries, and blows to the face are common ways the jaw can be knocked out of alignment. Left untreated, the misaligned jaw can literally start to carve a new, misaligned path for itself.

An imbalance in the muscles that act on the jaw is another way to cause TMJ dysfunction. The jaw, like all joints in the body, is moved and stabilized by muscles. When these muscles aren’t functioning properly, the jaw will not move properly, and the joint will start a degenerative process that will not just go away. Arthritic changes and problems with the disc often result from such imbalances.

The most common, and often over-looked, cause of TMJ is a problem with the neck. When the top bones of the neck go out of alignment, they place pressure on the nerves that go to the head and face, causing problems such as: headaches, ringing in the ears, dizzy spells, sinus trouble, and TMJ.

The problem with Jessie’s jaw was a combination of all these things. She was treated with manipulation of her jaw, to help align it for proper tracking, myofascial release to the muscles that act on her jaw, relaxation techniques to help her stop clenching, a splint to help her relax her jaw at night, and most importantly, she was given chiropractic care to address the problems in her neck that were affecting her jaw.

Your chiropractor will take a health history, do an examination of the nerves that most commonly cause TMJ and examine your spine to see if those nerves are impinged by misaligned vertebrae. When indicated, spinal x-rays will be taken to see exactly where the spinal bones are misaligned and how to re-align the spine to correct the problem.

Chiropractic adjustments can correct the cause by re-aligning the vertebrae to their normal position with gentle exercises to strengthen to new and proper positioning. If you would like to leave the pain and the drugs behind, chiropractic offers a promising solution by dealing with the cause of TMJ.

By Dr. Paul Early, a Seattle Chiropractor at Sound Chiropractic Center.