Westside Chiropractic
TMJ dysfunction care in Burlington.
Most people never think about their jaw until it starts making noise: a click when you yawn, or a pop halfway through a bagel. TMJ dysfunction is the everyday name for pain and trouble in the temporomandibular joint (the jaw joint, just in front of each ear, where your lower jaw meets your skull) and in the muscles that move it.
What TMJ dysfunction can feel like
It might be a click when you open wide, an ache just in front of the ear, or a jaw that tires partway through a meal. Some people wake up with sore jaw muscles after clenching or grinding overnight. Headaches around the temples are common too, because one of the main chewing muscles fans out right across that area. A click on its own, with no pain or catching, is very common and usually nothing to worry about. Noise is not the same as damage.
Common causes we see
Your jaw works a bit like a drawer on runners. As you open wide, the jaw hinges and then slides forward, with a small cushioning disc riding between the joint surfaces. When the muscles guiding it are tired or tight, that slide can catch, much like a drawer snagging on its runner. Clenching and grinding (bruxism) are the usual suspects, and for a lot of people stress shows up in the jaw. Gum chewing and nail biting add to the load. Posture may play a part, but the research on it is mixed, so we treat it as one piece of the picture.
Your care
How we help
Conservative care is the usual first step for this kind of jaw pain, and much of it is about easing the load on the joint and muscles. That often includes soft tissue work for the jaw and neck, gentle chiropractic care, and simple exercises to help you open and close in a straight, controlled line. Medical acupuncture and massage therapy can be part of the plan for some people. We will also talk about habits: lips together, teeth apart and tongue resting on the roof of your mouth is a good default. If grinding or your bite seems involved, we are happy to work alongside your dentist, who can assess whether a night guard makes sense. If your assessment points somewhere else, we will refer you on.
How we assess it
We start with the story: when your jaw bothers you, whether you clench or grind, how you are sleeping, and whether headaches are part of it. Then we watch how you open and close, measure how wide you can comfortably open, and feel for clicking or catching. We check the jaw muscles on both sides and look at your neck and upper back too, because the jaw and neck tend to share the load.
When to get it checked sooner
Most jaw pain is not serious, but see a medical doctor or your dentist promptly if your jaw is locked open or shut, if there is swelling or a fever, if part of your face feels numb, or if the pain started after a blow to the face. Jaw pain that comes on with exertion or with chest pain needs emergency care, so call 911. These point to something other than TMJ dysfunction. We will refer you on if your assessment suggests it.
Common questions
TMJ dysfunction questions
Can a chiropractor help with TMJ?
Should I see my dentist or a chiropractor?
My jaw clicks but does not hurt. Should I worry?
Book a visit for your jaw pain
Booking online takes just a couple of minutes. Or call the office and Rosanna will help you find a time that works.
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