TMJ Dysfunction is Treatable with Chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology

The Temporal Mandibular Joint, or TMJ, is likely to be the most complicated joint in the entire body. This region of your jaw can be a big problem-maker for the rest of the body too.

A specific diagnosis by a specialist may be necessary to determine if a person has a true dysfunction in their TMJ, yet where does this leave the patient when it comes to treatment?

An evaluation of the jaw, in relation to the entire body, reveals that the jaw does not function entirely by itelf. This means that the TMJ can be the Cause or the Result of a bodily symptom, primarily pain.

Pain upon opening or closing the jaw is most often associated with an overuse injury of the muscles that create this action, resulting in a strain or sprain of a muscle. Long term muslce imbalance can lead to entrapment of a cartilage material within the "hinge" of the jaw which can be excruciatingly painful. Other common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction are as follows: headaches, migraines, clicking, popping, grinding of the teeth, sleep apnea, neck pain, low back pain, acid reflux,heart burn, sinus congestion, facial pain, and poor balance.

Chewing gum is a primary example of a mis-use of the jaw, resulting in muscular strain.

Not only does it fatigue muscles and render them less efficient, the act of chewing also exhausts highly needed enzymes in the stomach and small intestine. The body will literally think that it needs to prepare for digestion of food because of the action created through gum-chewing.

The body has an intelligent design that is often interrupted by intellectual choices.

The second most common etiology of jaw pain is mal-alignment of the vertebrae in the neck, called the cervical spine. Numerous muscle attachments are found in the neck which connect directly to the TMJ. Whiplash injuries, head trauma (even from birth), and Stomach/Esophagus related dysfunction are also highly related injuries associated with Temporomandibular Dysfunction.

Since the cause of TMJ dysfunction can be wide-ranging and varied, it is suggested that an individual seek the consultation of a specialist that is trained to look at the entire body, not just the involved region of dysfunction. This type of doctor can distinguish common causes for jaw pain or dysfunction which may be entirely unrelated to the jaw itself. This approach is initially encouraged because of the risk potential related to having the jaw aligned using appliances or reconstructive surgery to the teeth or mandible.

Manual techniques focused on muscular support, exercises, and light joint aligment are very effective in treating many pain conditions. Myofascial release, cranial manipulation, Chiropractic adjustments, Activator Methods, Digestive Reflexology, Applied Kinesiology, and nutritional testing are useful approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

Doctors of Chiropractic, particularly trained in Applied Kinesiology or other forms of reflex testing, are capable of safely treating conditions affecting the head, neck, and jaw. Seeking consultation with a doctor of this type reduces the possibility for unwanted side affects or increased pain.