Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is a condition that affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the surrounding facial muscles, causing pain, problems with opening the mouth, and headaches, among other symptoms. While dentists often prescribe TMD treatments to help reduce the effects of TMD, other treatments target the causes, like muscle tension and bite misalignment. When a patient’s TMD is due to incorrectly positioned bones and muscles in the neck, a chiropractor may be able to help ease this condition.
What Causes TMD?
TMD is a general term that covers temporomandibular joint dysfunction, facial pain around the jaw joint, and muscle problems that affect the joint’s movement. The condition has a range of causes, according to the Mayo Clinic, including jaw injury, poor teeth alignment, and arthritis, as well as tension or stress — and sometimes the cause isn’t known. Consequently, when dentists or dental specialists treat TMD, they may prescribe several approaches.
TMD Treatments
Your dentist may recommend certain treatments for TMD which may include taking pain and anti-inflammatory medications, eating soft foods, reducing stress, wearing a nightguard or dental splint, and receiving massage or physical therapy. Manipulation of the neck bones and muscles is the physical therapy that a TMJ chiropractor provides. Though patients anecdotally report that chiropractic manipulations improve their TMD symptoms, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, no rigorous studies have assessed the effectiveness of chiropractic treatment for TMD.
Chiropractor
Chiropractors realign bones and muscles to improve function and reduce pain in their patients, and they must pass an exam to receive a license to practice. A chiropractor can realign the bones of the neck to improve problems with the jaw joint.
Patients may need to visit a TMJ chiropractor several times or even regularly in order to manage their TMD symptoms.
Just as a dentist can diagnose TMD and assess possible causes, he or she can also advise whether a TMJ chiropractor is an ideal option for reducing symptoms, or if chiropractic treatment might work best alongside other options.