Jaw pain, clicking, locking or aching around the jaw joint can be surprisingly debilitating — affecting eating, talking and sleeping. At Chiro Pro we assess and treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders as part of a whole-body approach, looking at not just the jaw itself but the neck and surrounding structures that so often contribute to the problem.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint connecting your jaw to your skull, just in front of each ear. TMJ disorder — sometimes called TMD — refers to a range of conditions affecting this joint and the surrounding muscles, causing pain and dysfunction in and around the jaw.

TMJ disorders are more common than most people realise, and are frequently linked to problems in the cervical spine and surrounding musculature rather than the jaw alone.

You might be dealing with a TMJ disorder if you’re experiencing:

• Pain or aching in the jaw, face or around the ear
• Clicking, popping or grinding sounds when opening or closing the mouth
• Difficulty opening the mouth fully or locking of the jaw
• Headaches or migraines linked to jaw tension
• Neck pain and stiffness alongside jaw symptoms
• Tooth grinding or clenching (bruxism)
• Facial muscle tension or fatigue after eating or talking

TMJ disorders rarely have a single cause. Common contributing factors include:

• Joint dysfunction or inflammation in the TMJ itself
• Muscle tension and trigger points in the jaw, face and neck
• Cervical spine dysfunction — particularly in the upper neck — which can directly refer pain into the jaw
• Bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching), often related to stress
• Postural problems — forward head posture places significant load on the jaw and neck
• Previous trauma such as a whiplash injury or direct blow to the jaw
• Dental work that has altered the bite

Because the jaw and neck are so closely connected, problems in one area frequently affect the other. A thorough assessment of both is essential to getting to the bottom of what’s driving your symptoms.

Chris takes a comprehensive approach to jaw pain — assessing not just the TMJ but the neck, posture and surrounding musculature to identify all the contributing factors. Many patients with jaw pain have a significant cervical component that has been overlooked by other practitioners.

Treatment may include chiropractic adjustments to the cervical spine and surrounding joints, dry needling to release trigger points in the jaw and neck muscles, soft tissue therapy and postural advice to reduce the load on the jaw long term.

Chris will take a detailed history of your jaw symptoms — when they started, what aggravates them and whether you have associated neck pain, headaches or other symptoms. He’ll assess your jaw movement, neck mobility and posture before explaining his findings and recommending the most appropriate treatment approach.

Jaw pain and TMJ disorders respond well to the right treatment. Book online today and take the first step towards lasting relief.

Jaw pain frequently has a cervical component — read more about our neck pain treatment and headache treatment. Dry needling is commonly used as part of jaw pain management at Chiro Pro.

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Yes — particularly when the jaw pain has a cervical component, which is very common. The upper neck and jaw are closely connected and problems in one area frequently contribute to symptoms in the other. Chris will assess both thoroughly to identify what’s driving your symptoms.

Depending on what’s causing your jaw pain, a combined approach involving both a chiropractor and a dentist may be beneficial — particularly if bruxism or bite issues are involved. Chris will let you know at your first appointment whether a referral to a dentist or other practitioner would be helpful alongside chiropractic care.

Yes — tension in the jaw and surrounding muscles is a common driver of headaches, particularly tension headaches and those felt at the temples or base of the skull. Treating the jaw and neck together often leads to significant improvement in both jaw pain and headache frequency.

A clicking jaw without pain is very common and often doesn’t require treatment. However it can be a sign of early TMJ dysfunction that’s worth having assessed before it becomes symptomatic. Chris will advise you on whether treatment is warranted based on a thorough examination.

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