TMJ in Marietta GA

Help for TMJ Pain and other Jaw Disorders in Marietta GA

If you’re having symptoms including temporal headaches, pain or tenderness around your jaw, difficulty chewing or pain while chewing, or “locking” of the joint making it difficult to open and close your mouth you’re likely suffering from TMJ or TMDD in Marietta GA. These symptoms are often recognized as a condition commonly known as TMJ disorder or temporomandibular disorder (TMD), a condition affecting the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the surrounding facial muscles.

TMD has a range of causes for which many treatments are available. One option might involve chiropractic. With physical manipulation of your jaw joint and muscles, a chiropractor might be able to help ease your TMD pain.

While many treatment options exist for TMJ disorders or this type of complaint, treatment for TMJ or jaw pain can be managed effectively with chiropractic care. After evaluation of the injury, a treatment plan will be administered that is specific to the patient. The main purpose here is to ensure it is safe to help you. Our chiropractors also assess if joint or soft tissue involvement is present during this assessment.

Various options for treatment of TMJ or jaw pain in a chiropractic office include ice or heat application, soft tissue massage to the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joint, joint mobilization or manipulation (either manual or with various tools), rehabilitation exercises and ultrasound therapy.

What Is TMD?

TMD is a general term covering these disorders:

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, commonly known as TMJ
Facial pain around the jaw joint
Muscle problems affecting the joint’s movement
Besides jaw pain and facial, neck, and shoulder pain – TMD causes problems with opening your mouth, headaches, and other symptoms.

What Causes TMD?

Hormones, genetics, and repetitive behaviors can result in TMD disorders. TMD causes also include:

Jaw injury
Improper alignment of the jaw or neck
Arthritis
Tension or stress, which might result in teeth grinding or clenching
Autoimmune diseases

Sometimes (and most times) the exact cause is not known. Consequently, when dentists or TMD specialists treat TMD, they may prescribe several approaches.

Approaches To Treatment

How Can a Chiropractor Help with TMJ or TMD?

Licensed chiropractors adjust bones, and joints, and help muscles to improve function and reduce pain in their patients. One option a TMD chiropractor can provide is to make specific adjustments to help ease TMD/TMJ symptoms. In addition, a TMD chiropractor can provide proper physical therapy, massage, and supervised exercise. Expectations from your Chiropractic care include:

Manipulation of the jaw so it can move more easily
Relieve the muscle tension near the jaw and neck
You might need to visit a TMJ chiropractor several times or even regularly to manage your TMD symptoms.

Other TMD Treatments

Besides chiropractic treatment for TMJ or any TMD, other treatments include:
Taking pain and anti-inflammatory medications
Eating soft foods
Reducing stress and tension
Wearing dental splints

If you are suffering from TMD you should consider chiropractic treatment a good option for reducing your symptoms – either as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with other treatments. The important thing is to ease your pain so you can enjoy eating and all of life’s pleasures.