TMJ/TMD

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge joint that connects your jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones located at the side of your skull. This joint lets you move your jaw up, down and side-to-side. When this joint is not functioning properly, you may experience pain or difficulty with talking, chewing and yawning. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) can be caused by injury to the jaw, head, or neck, grinding/clenching the teeth and even stress!

Signs of TMJ disorder include pain that travels through the face, jaw and neck, stiffness in the jaw muscles and limited movement or locking of the jaw. Some may also experience painful clicking and/or popping at the jaw, or a change in the way your upper and lower teeth fit together.

Many people don’t know that physical therapists can help treat TMJ disorder. At Cynergy, our therapists use a combination of manual techniques and gentle strengthening exercises to restore the natural movements of your jaw and decrease pain.