TMJ
The neck and upper-back tension that comes with TMJ is the part I can help with. Here is what that means.
What TMJ actually is
TMJ is short for the temporomandibular joint, the small hinge that connects your jaw to your skull just in front of your ear. When that joint is unhappy, you feel it as jaw pain, clicking or popping when you chew, soreness in the side of your face, ear pressure, or headaches that wrap around the side of your head.
The joint itself is tiny. There is not much holding it together other than the muscles around it. Once the cartilage disc inside the joint is damaged or displaced, that part of the problem usually does not fully reverse. Patients who pop their jaw, grind their teeth, or have been clenching for years have often already changed the joint in a way no provider can completely undo.
That is the honest answer I give every patient who walks in asking if I can fix their TMJ. I cannot rebuild the joint. What I can do is treat the part of the problem that almost always comes with it.
The part most providers miss
Most patients who come in with TMJ also have significant neck and upper-back tension. Often the neck pain has been there longer than the jaw issue. The muscles that move the jaw connect to the muscles that hold your head up, which connect to the muscles that run down through your shoulders and upper back. When one part of that chain is in a constant state of tension, the rest of the chain compensates, and you end up with a head, neck, and jaw that are all unhappy at once.
For a lot of TMJ patients, treating the neck is what actually gives them relief. The jaw clicking may not go away. The pain that has been making it hard to sleep, hard to focus, and hard to get through the day, that part often does.
That is the work I can help with directly. Manual chiropractic care for the upper cervical spine and the related soft tissue work for the muscles around the jaw, neck, shoulders, and upper back. It is the same kind of work I do for any patient who has been carrying chronic tension in that region. The fact that it is showing up partly as jaw symptoms does not change the underlying approach.
What I cannot do for you
I want to be upfront about this. I am not a dentist. I am not an oral surgeon. If the disc inside your TMJ is significantly damaged, I cannot restore it. If your bite is the underlying problem, I cannot adjust your bite. If you grind your teeth at night and need a night guard, that is a dental conversation.
What I can do is treat the neck, upper-back, and muscle tension that is almost certainly part of your symptom picture, and tell you honestly whether that is going to give you enough relief to be worth the work. For many TMJ patients it is. For some, the answer is that the chiropractic work is helpful but a dental referral is also needed. I will tell you which one I think you are on the first visit.
When this kind of treatment helps
Patients who tend to do well with the work I offer
- You have jaw pain or tightness alongside neck pain, upper-back tension, or headaches.
- Your TMJ is bothering you but your bite has not been ruled out by a dentist, and you want to address the muscle and joint piece first.
- You grind or clench when stressed and the surrounding muscles are doing too much work.
- You have already seen a dentist or oral specialist who helped with the dental side, but you still have neck tension and jaw soreness.
Patients I usually refer out, or work alongside someone else for
- Severe joint damage confirmed by imaging that needs a TMJ specialist or oral surgeon.
- Bite issues that need orthodontic correction.
- Nighttime grinding that needs a night guard your dentist can fit.
How a first visit works
Your first visit takes about an hour. I listen to your story first. Then I do a real exam of your jaw, neck, upper back, and the muscles connecting them. Then I tell you what I think is going on and what we can do about it. If I think a dentist or oral specialist needs to be part of your team, I will tell you on that first visit.
I listen first
Your story comes before anything else: what you feel, and when.
A real exam
Jaw, neck, upper back, and the muscles connecting them.
An honest read
What I think is going on, and whether a dentist should be involved.
Treatment that day
We begin the same visit, no waiting for a follow-up.
Listen
You tell your story, what's going on, what you've tried.
Examine
A real hands-on exam to find the actual cause.
Treat same day
We start treatment on the first visit. No waiting.
Ready to figure out what is actually going on?
If you have been told you have TMJ and the jaw work alone has not given you the relief you were hoping for, the neck and muscle side is worth a real look. Book a first visit and let me hear your story.
Schedule your appointmentCommon questions
Will my jaw stop clicking after treatment?
Probably not. Once the joint itself has been changed by years of grinding, clenching, or wear, the clicking usually stays. What can change is the pain, the muscle tension, and the headaches that come with it.
Do you use a night guard or mouthguard?
A night guard is a dental device, so it is something your dentist fits for you. The muscle and tension work I do can complement it, but I do not make or fit guards myself.
Is this covered by insurance?
Pure Health & Wellness is in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna PPO, PHCS PPOs, and United Healthcare PPO. You may also see the practice listed in your insurance directory as Hunter Family Chiropractic, PC. Same practice, same doctor. Call (630) 435-0100 to confirm coverage for your plan.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can book a first visit directly. If a dentist or oral specialist also needs to be involved, I will tell you.