Where to find a TMJ specialist for your headaches

Do you find yourself struggling with headaches day after day? Are you unable to pinpoint the root cause of your aching pains? Chances are you may be dealing with something called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. Approximately 10 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have some sort of TMJ disorder. It’s a condition that causes pain and limited motion in the jaw joints and the muscles around the jaw joints. TMJ dysfunction has the potential to cause headaches, among other symptoms, and may require treatment from a qualified TMJ specialist. You may benefit from a TMJ specialist's assistance if you can’t seem to make your frequent headaches disappear. 

If you’re interested in learning more about TMJ dysfunction, including the symptoms, causes, and where you can find a TMJ specialist who can treat your headaches, you’ll find everything you’re looking for and more below.

What might necessitate a visit with a TMJ specialist?

When someone has TMJ dysfunction, the joints, muscles and even ligaments in the jaw become inflamed and hard to function. Pain, swelling and tenderness can spread from the joint to the muscles around the jaw, ears, temple and neck. Someone who experiences TMJ-related earaches, headaches, sore neck muscles or significant jaw discomfort can benefit from a TMJ specialist’s treatment. This condition is more common in women than men and mostly affects people 20 to 40 years old, making these groups more likely to seek care from a TMJ specialist.

What are some of the most common symptoms of TMJ dysfunction? 

TMJ dysfunction can be recognized by a few distinguishable symptoms. These symptoms include:

• Pain or sensitivity in the jaw — One of the first symptoms of a TMJ disorder is pain or tenderness in the area of the jaw. It may be painful or tender to touch, to chew with, and to perform other types of activities with the jaw.
   
• Pain around the ear — Another sign of TMJ dysfunction that may benefit from a specialist’s treatment is pain around the ear. When inflammation in the jaw joint, muscles and ligaments reaches up to the muscles around the ear, a person is likely to experience earaches or pain in the area of the ear.
   
• Jaw joint locking — One more common symptom of TMJ dysfunction that may necessitate a visit with a TMJ specialist is joint locking. Some people find that opening and closing their mouths is difficult or uncomfortable to perform when the joint locks or pops with use.

What are some of the most common causes of TMJ dysfunction?

Many causes of TMJ dysfunction can lead a person to develop bothersome headaches, including:

• Traumatic jaw injury.
• Grinding or clenching teeth.
• Arthritis in the jaw.

Where can you find a TMJ specialist for your headaches?

If you think you might be dealing with TMJ-related headaches, it’s important that you seek a specialist’s help. Most people are unaware that you can receive a TMJ specialist’s services in a physical therapy clinic. Physical therapists are highly trained and educated in a number of different areas, including temporomandibular joint dysfunction. If you need help managing your headaches, you need to look no further than your local physical therapist’s office. Most PTs are expertly trained in reducing pain and inflammation in the jaw. They’ll identify the source of your TMJ discomfort and come up with a personalized treatment plan. If you’re experiencing a limited range of motion in your jaw, they can use specialized techniques and tools to improve your jaw’s mobility. If headaches are your primary concern, they’ll help reduce muscle tension in your jaw while strengthening your jaw muscles to alleviate your symptoms.

Alliance PTP is ready to help you find top-notch PT for your TMJ-related headaches

At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we’re proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. 

Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that’s close to you, and that can help you address any symptoms you may have as a result of inflammation and tension in your jaw, like headaches. Our partners can identify the source of your TMJ discomfort and then craft a specialized treatment plan to address your symptoms. 

Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform. 

Come find help for your injury or chronic condition today!