If you have been diagnosed with TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction) or have pain in the jaw, by the ears, forehead, back of the head, neck and/or shoulders, a therapeutic TMJ massage may be right for you. At Berland Dental Arts, our Licensed Massage Therapist is highly trained, knowledgable and experienced to take care of you. Treatment consists of massage to the temporalis, splenius capitis, cervical, trapezius and masseter muscles. She will focus treatment on your chewing muscles, eliminating any trigger points and pain referral areas by releasing tension in the fascia around the jaw, neck, head and face. This treatment also includes intraoral massage to the masseter muscles to reduce the stress it can put on the jaw and temporomandibular joints. Pain is frequently aggravated by clenching and/or grinding of the teeth, causing damage to the joints due to disease, arthritis or trauma to the face. All of these factors can contribute to mild to severe jaw pain with accompanying headaches. If any of these symptoms apply to you, we can help you. Please schedule your therapeutic massage today.
To contact our massage therapist directly via email, click here.
Temporomandibular massage therapy, especially in tandem with dental night guards, splints, or plates, has helped many patients, even with migraines, live better WITHOUT drugs. Click here to read more on a holistic approach to TMJ.
TMJD Overview:
- The Jaw Joint
“TMJ” stands for TemporoMandibular Joint, or the jaw joint. You have two TMJ joints, one in front of each ear, connecting the lower jaw bone (the mandible) to the skull. The joints allow movements in tandem up and down, side to side, and forward and back – all the mobility necessary for biting, chewing, swallowing food, for speaking and for making facial expressions.
Please click the following links to view the TMJ anatomy:
TMJ Anatomy
Intraoral Anatomy
Intraoral Anatomy 2
- Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorder
Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorder (TMD), commonly called TMJ, is a collection of symptoms often characterized by pain in the jaw and surrounding tissues and limitations in jaw movements. Injury and conditions that routinely affect other joints in the body, such as arthritis, also can affect the temporomandibular joint.
- Symptoms
Pain is the most common symptom. TMJ pain is often described as a dull ache in the jaw joint and nearby areas, including the ear, which comes and goes. Some people are asymptomatic but still have other issues with their jaws. Other symptoms include:
- Headaches
- TMJ pain
- TMJ noise (clicking, popping, or grinding)
- Limited opening
- Ear congestion and pain
- Swelling on the side of the face
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
- Loose teeth
- Clenching/bruxing (grinding)
- Facial pain
- Fatigued facial muscles
- Tender, sensitive teeth
- Difficulty chewing
- Cervical (neck) pain
- Postural problems
- Paresthesia of fingertips (tingling)
- Teeth sensitivity to hot and cold
- Nervousness/insomnia
- Causes
- Asymmetry of the muscles of mastication (chewing muscles)
- Forward head posture
- Tightness of the back of the neck
- Multiple myofascial trigger points
- Injury to the jaw, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or muscles of the head and neck – such as from a heavy blow or whiplash
- Grinding or clenching the teeth
- Dislocation of the disk, or soft cushion, between the ball and socket of the TM joint
- Patients experiencing the wear and tear of osteoarthritis or the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis in the TMJ
- Stress can cause a person to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth
- Diagnosis
In most cases, a complete evaluation, including a detailed medical history, the patient’s description of symptoms, and physical examination of the head, neck, face and jaw provide useful information for making a diagnosis by your dentist and/or doctor.
- Treatment
Most commonly, jaw joint and muscle problems are temporary, lasting only weeks or months. These short-term instructions can be used to help relieve the discomfort:
- Soft diet for one week – “knife and fork” everything (small pieces)
- Keep teeth apart and lips together, relaxing your jaw as much as possible
- Do not test it (avoid extreme jaw movements, wide yawning)
- Do not chew gum
- Do not eat sandwiches, bagels, French or Italian breads, baguettes, etc.
- For some, alternating hot and cold compresses works best
- Take anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, Tylenol, Aspirin)
- Avoid eating foods that require lots of chewing
- Find ways to relax and de-stress; don’t let the little things worry you
For chronic TMJ pain and TMD, these appliances, in conjunction with TMJ massages, are often recommended:
- Dental night guard
- Dental splint
- TMJ massage – click here for more info
- Therapeutic TMJ scanning
- Temporomandibular Joint Massage
In treating temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), the massage therapist focuses on reducing tension in the chewing muscles. This therapy eliminates trigger points—the hyperirritable “knots” felt in the muscles that refer pain elsewhere—and releases tension in the fascia around the jaw area. Fascia is the tough, densely-woven connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel and organ of the body. This treatment also includes intraoral massage to the masseter muscles to reduce the stress it can put on the jaws and temporomandibular joints.
Intraoral massage is an effective treatment for patients who suffer from TMD, trigger point-related headaches or excessive jaw tension. Latex-free gloves are worn while working inside the mouth to release the muscles and fascia involved in mastication and jaw clenching. This modality is used in conjunction with special massage techniques for the face, scalp and neck muscles that affect jaw alignment and tension. Common factors in TMD that can be helped by massage include poor posture, whiplash injuries, chronic tension or overuse, bruxism, stress, and muscle imbalance caused by occupational habits. |
