When it comes to getting you the care you need for TMJD, sometimes it takes a village’s worth of support. Despite the stigma and misinformation within the medical community faced by those of us who live with chronic jaw issues, thankfully there are practitioners — much like myself — who are dedicated to working with each other and getting patients of TMJD the much-needed care they deserve.
In part 1 of this series, we explored the benefits of myofunctional therapy, and the way its various exercises target the mouth, tongue, lips, face, and jaw muscles with aims to restore balance and harmony to the orofacial structures.
Today, we’ll delve deeper into oral health by means of dentistry and physical therapy.
Okay, so let’s dive right in. Dentists and orthodontists monitor your overall oral health which can have a significant impact on your symptoms. They'll keep an eye out for any signs of tooth wear, decay, or gum disease that may be related to your jaw pain and help you nip these issues in the bud.
When these practitioners work hand-in-hand with your myofunctional therapist, you can get a treatment plan that approaches your TMJD from another angle. For example, your dentist can fit you with a custom oral appliance to wear at night while you work on correcting your tongue posture and nasal breathing during the day.
In addition to bite correction, these providers can create custom splints or night guards to help alleviate symptoms and protect your teeth from the damaging effects of jaw clenching and teeth grinding. These implements can be especially helpful for those who experience TMJ pain primarily at night or when they wake up in the morning.
Speaking as a physical therapist, PTs also play a crucial role in collaborative TMJ care. As experts in musculoskeletal disorders, we can provide a comprehensive assessment of your body mechanics, identifying factors that may contribute to your jaw pain. This includes evaluating your posture, neck and shoulder alignment, and any muscle imbalances or tension in the surrounding areas.
Physical therapists can help alleviate your TMJD symptoms using a variety of techniques. This may include exercises to strengthen weak muscles, mobilize tight muscles, and improve the coordination of your jaw and neck.
We can also utilize manual therapy techniques (such as soft tissue mobilization or joint mobilization) that can be used to reduce muscle tension, improve joint mobility, and promote proper alignment of the jaw and surrounding structures.
In addition to providing hands-on treatment, PTs work closely with your other healthcare providers, such as your myofunctional therapist or dentist, to ensure that your exercise program complements your overall treatment plan.
There you go — some of the ways different practitioners work together, and with patients of TMJD, to explore different avenues of recovery and pain management.
In the next part of this series, we will explore the role of speech-language pathologists and mental health professionals — another crucial, but nuanced, pair of providers you may not have considered part of the TMJD team.
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