TMJD Treatment in Macomb, MI
Your jaw is involved in hundreds of movements every day. Talking, chewing, laughing, yawning and even swallowing depend on the temporomandibular joints and the muscles surrounding them working together properly. When that movement becomes painful or restricted, something as simple as eating dinner can become frustrating.
Temporomandibular joint dysfunction, commonly called TMJD or TMD, affects the jaw joint and the muscles responsible for its movement. Symptoms include jaw pain, difficulty chewing or opening your mouth, clicking or popping, headaches, neck pain and a jaw that catches or locks. Problems develop for different reasons, including muscle tension, clenching or grinding, direct trauma, recent dental work, changes within the joint and problems involving the neck.
Dr. Pavel Bence, DC, CCWP has more than 40 years of chiropractic experience and looks at TMJD as more than an isolated jaw problem. The jaw, muscles of the face and upper neck work closely together, so his examination includes how the jaw moves, what the surrounding muscles are doing and whether problems in the cervical spine are contributing to the dysfunction.
When the problem is musculoskeletal, treatment addresses those areas together. Dr. Bence uses gentle chiropractic adjustments, specific work on the jaw joint, soft-tissue techniques and exercises to restore better movement, reduce muscle tension and improve the way the jaw functions.
Frequently Asked Questions About TMJD
What Is TMJD, and How Do I Know if I Have It?
TMJD refers to dysfunction involving the temporomandibular joints, the chewing muscles or the structures responsible for jaw movement. Common symptoms include jaw or facial pain, painful clicking or popping, stiffness, difficulty chewing, limited mouth opening, headaches and pain that extends into the neck. The jaw may also catch or lock. Clicking by itself does not necessarily mean something is wrong, particularly when there is no pain or restriction. Dr. Bence evaluates how your jaw opens and moves, the muscles surrounding it and the relationship between your jaw and neck to determine what is contributing to your symptoms.
What Causes TMJD?
TMJD does not have one cause. Clenching or grinding your teeth, tight jaw muscles, stress, trauma, arthritis, recent dental work and problems involving the small disc within the joint all contribute to jaw dysfunction. Repetitive habits such as chewing gum or frequently opening the mouth very wide add additional stress. Neck problems also matter because the jaw, head and cervical spine function closely together. Dr. Bence looks at the combination of factors affecting the individual patient rather than assuming every painful or clicking jaw developed for the same reason.
Can a Chiropractor Help With TMJD?
Yes. Dr. Bence treats TMJD when the examination shows that restricted joint movement, muscle tension, cervical dysfunction or other mechanical problems are contributing to the patient’s symptoms. Treatment addresses both the jaw and the neck rather than concentrating only on the location of the pain. He uses gentle chiropractic adjustments, typically including an Activator adjustment to the jaw, along with pressure-point work, stretching and exercises when appropriate. Dental problems still belong with a dentist, and Dr. Bence works with dental professionals when a patient’s condition requires both approaches.
Can Neck Problems Contribute to Jaw Pain?
Yes. The jaw does not function independently of the head and neck. Muscles involved in jaw movement interact closely with the muscles responsible for positioning the head and cervical spine, and problems in one area affect how the others function. That is one reason TMJD frequently appears alongside neck pain and headaches. Dr. Bence examines cervical movement and function as part of a TMJD evaluation and addresses problems he finds there along with the jaw. Treating only the painful jaw while overlooking significant neck involvement leaves an important part of the mechanical picture unaddressed.
Is Jaw Clicking or Popping Something to Worry About?
Not necessarily. A jaw that clicks or pops without pain, locking or restricted movement does not always require treatment. The sound becomes more important when it develops with pain, difficulty chewing, limited opening, catching or locking. Clicking and popping are often associated with movement of the small disc within the temporomandibular joint as the jaw opens and closes. Rather than judging the problem by the sound alone, Dr. Bence evaluates how the joint moves and whether the clicking is part of a larger pattern of dysfunction.
Can Teeth Grinding or Jaw Clenching Cause TMJD?
Yes. Repeated clenching and grinding place considerable stress on the jaw muscles and temporomandibular joints. Some people clench during stressful situations or periods of concentration without realizing it, while others grind their teeth during sleep. Over time, the muscles become tight and irritated and the joint is repeatedly overloaded. Morning jaw soreness, facial fatigue and headaches are common clues. Chiropractic care addresses the resulting muscle tension and mechanical problems, while tooth wear, bite problems and decisions about night guards or dental appliances are handled by a dentist.
Why Does My Jaw Lock or Feel Stuck?
Jaw locking occurs when something interferes with normal movement of the joint. Muscle spasm or problems involving the disc within the TMJ are among the reasons the jaw becomes difficult to open or feels as though it catches. A jaw that remains locked should not be repeatedly forced open. Persistent locking, severe pain, significant swelling or an inability to eat or drink normally requires appropriate dental or medical evaluation. Dr. Bence determines whether the problem is appropriate for chiropractic care or whether an oral specialist should become involved.
How Many Chiropractic Visits Will I Need for TMJD?
There is no predetermined treatment schedule for TMJD. A recent problem involving muscle tension and restricted movement is different from longstanding dysfunction complicated by grinding, arthritis or internal joint changes. Dr. Bence bases the frequency and length of care on what he finds during the examination and how the patient responds to treatment. Progress is measured by meaningful changes such as less pain, easier chewing, improved jaw movement, fewer headaches and a better ability to use the jaw comfortably during everyday activities.
TMJD Is More Than a Painful Jaw
The temporomandibular joint sits just in front of the ear where the lower jaw meets the skull. A small disc within the joint helps the surfaces move smoothly while several muscles control opening, closing and side-to-side movement.
That is a lot of coordinated activity for a relatively small joint. When normal movement is disrupted, the effects are often felt beyond the joint itself. Tight jaw muscles produce facial soreness and fatigue. Problems within the joint make chewing uncomfortable or limit how far the mouth opens. Tension extends into the temples and neck, contributing to headaches or neck pain.
“When someone comes in with jaw pain, I don’t want to look at the jaw in isolation. I want to see how it moves, what the muscles are doing and what’s happening in the neck. That’s how you understand what needs to be treated.” Dr. Pavel Bence, DC, CCWP
What Are the Common Signs of TMJD?
Jaw Pain
Pain around the jaw joint is one of the most recognizable symptoms of TMJD. It becomes particularly noticeable during activities that repeatedly load the joint, such as chewing, talking, laughing or yawning.
The location of the pain does not always identify its source. Tight muscles, restricted joint movement, trauma and changes within the joint itself produce similar complaints. Dr. Bence uses the examination to distinguish among those possibilities and determine which structures need attention.
Clicking and Popping
The TMJ contains a small disc that moves with the lower jaw. When the relationship between the disc and joint changes, clicking or popping can occur as the jaw opens and closes.
A painless click is very different from a jaw that pops painfully, catches or becomes increasingly difficult to open. Dr. Bence evaluates the sound together with the movement and symptoms rather than treating the noise itself.
Difficulty Chewing or Opening Your Mouth
TMJD becomes particularly disruptive when it interferes with eating. Pain, tight muscles and restricted joint movement make chewing tiring and sometimes make certain foods difficult to manage.
Limited opening also makes everyday activities such as eating a sandwich, biting into food or sitting through dental treatment uncomfortable. Improving the movement of the joint and reducing excessive muscle tension are important treatment goals when these problems are mechanical.
Jaw Clenching and Muscle Tension
Clenching is easy to overlook because many people do it unconsciously. Stress, concentration and sleep are common times for the teeth to remain tightly together for prolonged periods.
That sustained contraction works the jaw muscles far harder than normal. Over time, they become tight, tender and fatigued, and the additional force repeatedly loads the joint. Helping the patient recognize those habits is an important part of keeping the same stress from being placed back on the jaw after treatment.
Headaches and Neck Pain
The muscles of the jaw, head and neck function in close relationship, which is why TMJD frequently occurs alongside headaches and cervical tension. Tightness around the jaw extends into the temples, while neck dysfunction changes the mechanical environment in which the jaw operates.
When a patient has jaw pain together with headaches or neck symptoms, Dr. Bence evaluates all of those areas rather than treating them as unrelated complaints.
How Dr. Bence Treats TMJD in Macomb
A Thorough Examination Comes First
TMJD treatment begins by understanding how the problem developed. Dr. Bence asks when the symptoms started, what makes them better or worse, whether the jaw clicks or locks, whether you clench or grind your teeth and whether recent dental work, an injury or other changes occurred around the time the problem began.
He then performs the chiropractic, functional, orthopedic and neurological examinations appropriate to the patient’s symptoms. Jaw range of motion is evaluated, including how the mouth opens and whether the jaw deviates to one side during movement. The cervical spine, surrounding muscles and related areas are examined as well. Together, these findings help Dr. Bence understand how the jaw, muscles and neck are functioning and where treatment should be directed.
The purpose is to develop a complete mechanical picture before treatment begins.
Gentle Chiropractic Care for the Neck and Jaw
When Dr. Bence finds restricted or poorly functioning areas in the cervical spine, chiropractic adjustments restore better movement through the neck and reduce the mechanical stress associated with those restrictions.
He then evaluates the movement of the jaw itself. When the TMJ requires adjustment, Dr. Bence typically uses an Activator instrument to deliver a gentle, precise adjustment rather than applying heavy manual force to the joint. This allows him to work specifically with the TMJ while using the controlled amount of force appropriate for such a small and sensitive joint.
The jaw is a small, highly mobile and sensitive joint. Treatment reflects that. Dr. Bence uses the amount and type of force appropriate to what he finds rather than treating the TMJ like a larger joint elsewhere in the body.
Soft-Tissue Work for the Jaw Muscles
Joint movement is only part of the problem when the muscles controlling the jaw have become chronically tight.
The masseter, temporalis and pterygoid muscles are heavily involved in chewing and jaw movement. When they remain tense from clenching, grinding or compensation for a poorly moving joint, that tension continues to affect how the jaw functions.
Dr. Bence uses pressure-point releases and stretching to address those muscles alongside chiropractic care. Reducing excessive muscle tension improves flexibility and allows the joint and muscles to work together more normally. Addressing both joint movement and the muscles responsible for controlling the jaw gives Dr. Bence a more complete approach to restoring comfortable function.
Home Care That Protects the Progress You Make
What you do with your jaw between visits matters. Continually overloading an irritated joint makes it harder for the area to settle down, even when treatment is improving its mechanics.
Dr. Bence gives patients recommendations according to what is aggravating their particular condition. That includes reducing or temporarily avoiding gum and foods that require prolonged chewing, being careful with foods that require the mouth to open unusually wide and becoming more aware of daytime clenching.
Exercises and stretches are selected to improve movement and stability without repeatedly irritating the joint. Stress-reducing activities are also worthwhile for patients who notice that clenching increases during stressful periods.
The purpose of home care is straightforward: stop repeatedly recreating the same stresses Dr. Bence is working to correct in the office.
When Your Dentist Should Be Part of the Team
Jaw pain sits in an area where chiropractic and dentistry sometimes overlap, and good TMJD care means knowing which part of the problem belongs with which provider.
Dr. Bence addresses the mechanical relationship among the jaw joint, surrounding muscles and cervical spine. A dentist addresses problems involving the teeth, significant bite concerns, tooth damage from grinding and decisions about night guards or dental splints. Dr. Bence also co-manages TMJD cases with dental professionals when a patient’s needs cross those boundaries.
Persistent jaw locking, significant swelling, fever, dental pain, major trauma or a substantial change in how your teeth fit together deserves dental or medical evaluation. Dr. Bence’s role includes recognizing when chiropractic care is appropriate and when another professional needs to become part of your care.
Getting Back to Using Your Jaw Without Thinking About It
Most of us never think about how often we use our jaw until every bite, conversation or yawn reminds us that something hurts.
Dr. Bence’s goal is to improve the way the jaw, surrounding muscles and neck work together so those ordinary movements become comfortable again. Treatment is built around what he finds during the examination, using gentle chiropractic adjustments, specific TMJ care, soft-tissue work and practical home recommendations to address the mechanical problems contributing to your symptoms.
With more than 40 years of chiropractic experience, his approach remains individual rather than formulaic. Your jaw pain has a history, a pattern and a combination of contributing factors that are unique to you. Your treatment should reflect that.
Ready to Feel More Comfortable?
If jaw pain, clicking, muscle tension, headaches or difficulty chewing are interfering with everyday life, we’re here to help. Bence Chiropractic Wellness Center provides TMJD treatment in Macomb and works with dental professionals when your condition requires coordinated care.
Call (586) 978-9900 to schedule your visit. Walk-in appointments are always welcome.
Related Conditions
Headaches
Jaw joint dysfunction can refer pain into the head, often alongside jaw clicking or discomfort.
Learn moreNeck Pain
The jaw and neck work as one connected system, see how neck dysfunction and jaw pain can be related.
Learn moreChiropractic Care
The evaluation and adjustment approach behind every care plan at Bence Chiropractic, explained in more detail.
Learn moreWhat Our Patients Are Saying
Nothing is more rewarding than knowing we’ve helped our patients live healthier, happier lives. We invite you to read what individuals and families throughout Macomb and the surrounding communities have shared about their experience at Bence Chiropractic Wellness Center.