TMJ/TMD - Apex Chiropractic Cincinnati

Understanding Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD)

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located on the skull, where your mandible (jaw bone) touches the temporal bone (a bone in the skull). When there’s dysfunction in the joint, it’s called temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). This dysfunction can come from many different factors, including muscles, bones and the disc within the joint itself. Some symptoms of TMD might include clicking/popping of the TMJ, pain in the joint, or lock-jaw. Through chiropractic care, we can help with the symptoms of TMD with adjustments, cranial work, and releasing tight muscles.

What TMD Can Feel Like

Pain or stiffness in the jaw
Clicking/popping in the joint
Tender, tired feelings in the face, jaw, and neck
Earaches
Headaches
Difficulty chewing
“Locked” jaw
Radiating pain into the neck and shoulders
Teeth sensitivity

Common Triggers

Poor posture or workstation setup
Stress – physical and emotional
Poor diet and sleep
Dehydration
Low blood sugar
Hormone changes
Excessive screen time

Impact on Daily Life

Painful eating, speaking or sleeping
Reduced work productivity
Social withdrawal
Persistent headaches
Anxiety and/or depression
Stress from managing symptoms
Unexpected symptoms, like ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

Why Temporomandibular Dysfunction Symptoms Can Continue

Chronic muscle overuse

Untreated joint damage

Poor stress management

Joint degeneration

Underlying issues, like malocclusion of teeth (bite being off) or other injuries

Repetitive motions, like chewing gum or biting nails or resting the chin on the hand

Poor posture

Hormone imbalance

How Chiropractic Care May Help

With techniques like Sacro-Occipita l Technique and Applied Kinesiology, we can find which part of the joint is having the most negative impact on your body. This might include gentle palpation of the joint, tracking the jaw when it’s going from open to close, muscle work, and gentle adjustments to the cervical spine. Cranial work may also be included in your care as the TMJ attaches to the skull.

We may use:

Gentle chiropractic adjustments

Myosfascial release

Lifestyle and nutritional considerations

Our Approach to Temporomandibular Dysfunction Care

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Individualized care plans

Your care is built around your symptoms, history, and how your neck and nervous system are functioning — not a standard protocol

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Gentle, targeted techniques

Chiropractic care is not just one method. We use a variety of techniques and choose what’s appropriate for your comfort, mobility, and condition

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Rehabilitation at the right time

When your body is ready, we may introduce exercises to support posture, stability, and long-term neck function

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Rehabilitation When Appropriate

As your condition improves, we may introduce exercises and functional rehabilitation strategies to help improve strength, coordination, balance, and mobility.

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