Temporomandibular Dysfunction

Symptoms associated with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) may vary but generally fall into one of the three following groups common to all synovial joints:

1) Inflammation

2) Disc derangement

3) Associated muscle disorder

4) Range of motion abnormalities (hypomobility or hypermobility)

Symptoms of TMD may take the form of jaw pain, clicking, limited jaw opening, and crepitus. Symptoms may also be referred in the form of headaches, masticatory muscle pain, ear pain, and cervical pain. As with other joints in the body, the temporomandibular joint responds well to physical therapy. Our treatment emphasizes patient education and home instruction and includes techniques designed to restore postural alignment, decrease symptoms to a tolerable level, and establish functional mandibular movement.