TMJ Treatment with our Beverly Hills Chiropractor
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is a dysfunction of the temporomandibular joints, which are located on each side of your head, at the top of your jaw. The TMJ works like a sliding hinge, connecting your skull to your jaw; they are what enable you to talk, eat and yawn. When one or both of the joints fail to work properly, it is known as TMD, which can cause pain in your jaw and in the muscles that control the jaw movement whenever your mouth is used. In most situations, a disorder of the joint can be corrected with chiropractic care from the Beverly Hills Comprehensive Medical Group.
What Causes TMJ Disorder?
There are several things that may cause TMJ to occur, including stress, grinding your teeth, injury and osteoarthritis; however, in many situations, the exact cause is often difficult to determine. The parts of the bone that interact with the joint are covered with cartilage and separated by a small shock absorbing disk, which typically helps to keep movement of the joint smooth. Your physician in Beverly Hills California may diagnose you with TMJ if the disk moves out of alignment or erodes, if the joint cartilage is damaged by osteoarthritis or if you get injured from a blow or impact to the joint.
Symptoms of TMJ
The good news is that in most cases, the discomfort and pain that is associated with TMJ disorders is usually temporary and be relieved with self-managed care and/or treatments from our chiropractors. In severe situations, surgery may be the only option, but is a last resort and only after other measures have failed. Signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders may include:
- Difficulty chewing and/or pain while chewing
- Aching pain in the face
- Pain in and/or around your ear
- Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
- Locking of joint, which makes it difficult to open and close your mouth
- Tenderness and/or pain in the jaw
- Clicking sound when opening and closing your, such as when chewing
Your chiropractor and weight loss specialists at Beverly Hills Comprehensive Medical Group may treat your TMJ in a variety of ways depending on the cause. For example, TMJ may be a manifestation of stress and/or tooth grinding, so stress management is an important part of the treatment from our chiropractors. Chiropractic care may also include lifestyle advice in order to help you manage your stress in a healthy, productive way, such as with breathing techniques. In addition, your chiropractor may use spinal adjustments to help you manage the pain and muscle tension in your neck.
Contact our Beverly Hills Chiropractor for TMJ Relief
Call Beverly Hills Comprehensive Medical Group today to see how one of our specialists can help with your pain. You can reach our Beverly Hills chiropractor by calling (310) 657-0366 to schedule your appointment for TMJ treatment.