TMJ Chiropractor
Chiropractor for Jaw Pain
Welcome to Our Family Chiropractor. We look forward to helping you overcome your health concerns with professional, personalised and comfortable chiropractic care.
At Our Family Chiropractor, we address common musculoskeletal health concerns such as jaw pain, or TMJ pain.
We are located at Suite 6/17 Surf Rd, Cronulla NSW 2230 (open on Google Maps).
What is TMJ dysfunction syndrome?
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction syndrome, also known as TMD, refers to pain, restricted jaw movement and joint noise in the temporomandibular joint.
Our TMJs are essential as they allow us to speak, eat and make facial expressions. As these joints are involved in such crucial functions, when there are problems including pain and dysfunction in these joints, it can be quite troublesome.
How do you know if you have Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction?
You may notice the following if you have TMJ dysfunction:
- Discomfort or sudden pain in the jaw, particularly when eating
- A clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth and chew
- An ache in front of your ear/facial area
- A locking jaw or difficulty opening and closing the jaw symmetrically
- Asymmetry/unevenness in your bite
What is the main cause of TMJ dysfunction?
There are a number of reasons why someone may experience TMJ, including:
- Misalignment in the joint
- Damage to the jaw cartilage caused by arthritis
- Poor posture in the neck or head
- Occlusal problems such as poor bite, asymmetrical or retrognathic (underbite, overbite).
Can a chiropractor help with TMJ?
Some chiropractors are trained in assessing TMJ joint dysfunction, and also providing treatment in the form of gentle adjustments and internal and external soft tissue work around the jaw to help alignment issues which cause dysfunction.
If the cause of your TMJ is out of our scope, you will be referred to a doctor or dentist. You may even be asked to have an X-ray, CT or MRI to further investigate.
Until you are ready to address the cause of your TMJ, there are some things you can do to relieve the discomfort associated with it. You may find that eating soft foods, avoiding clenching the jaw and opening the jaw too wide and wearing a mouthguard while you sleep to prevent jaw clenching or teeth grinding may be helpful.
Chiropractor for TMJ and Jaw Pain
At Our Family Chiropractor, we work with other health practitioners such as dentists to support a multimodal treatment approach to TMJ and jaw pain. You can count on us to address your health concerns with personalised chiropractic care, as well as refer you to other health practitioners if deemed necessary.
Dr. Kerry Falzon (Chiropractor) is the principal chiropractor and founder of Our Family Chiropractor. Kerry studied a Bachelor of Chiropractic Science degree and followed this up with a Master of Chiropractic. Kerry has a passion for natural healthcare, particularly helping her clients achieve optimal nervous system health and spinal function. Areas of clinical interest include care for pregnant women, paediatric care, newborns, mums, dads, grandparents & athletes.
