Alteration of the good TMJs function causes pains. Restoring this function decreases or even abolishes symptoms and pains associated with the alteration of the TMJs function.
The TMJ is the only suspended bone/joint unit in the body. It is the hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, allowing your jaw to move up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn. It’s unique nature feature makes it prone to mechanical stress originating from the cranial temporal bones, the base of the skull, the upper cervical vertebrae, and from the shoulders and collar bones, all of which are connected to the TMJs by muscles.
The proper articular function of the TMJs relies on good dental contacts, or occlusion, which can in turn alter those contacts, moving the jaw out of line. Local pain and cracking noise can then occur, leading to forceful maneuvers in order to open and close the mouth, chew, yawn and speak. Common symptoms that can be associated with TMJ include tiredness, stiff neck, tight jaw, face pain and head aches.
Osteopathic treatment will effectively balance the mechanical forces on the surrounding structures and release both TMJs, addressing the muscles, ligaments, and discs of the TMJs. Results will show decreased or abolished cracking and pain, increase in the range of movement of opening, closing and lateral movement of the mandible.