Jaw and TMJ
Hands-on care and gentle exercise for adults whose jaw feels tired, tight or noisy.
The jaw joint sits just in front of the ear, and the muscles around it connect to the neck. We look at how your jaw, neck and upper back move together, work on muscle with our hands, and teach you a few gentle movements to practice.
This care is for you if
Your jaw clicks, catches or feels tired by afternoon
You clench or grind and wake with a tight jaw
Your neck and shoulders feel tight along with your jaw
Your dentist or physician suggested you see a physical therapist
A visit
What a visit looks like
About an hour for a first visit, with one physical therapist.
Talk
Your therapist asks when your jaw is at its most tired, what you do with it all day and what you want back.
Examine
How far and how smoothly the jaw opens, and how the neck and upper back are working beside it.
Hands-on care
Work on the muscles of the jaw, neck and shoulders from the outside. Tell us and we ease off.
Plan
Gentle movements to practice, and habits for chewing, resting and sleeping.
What we do
Named plainly, with no promise of a result.
Look at the whole chain
We check jaw movement, neck posture and the muscles between them.
Hands-on work
Pressure and stretch along the muscles of the jaw, neck and shoulders. We stop when you ask.
A few things to practice
Gentle jaw and neck movements, and small habits for the day.
Good to know
What decides how many visits
Your exam, your goals and how you respond. Your therapist tells you what they expect, and revisits it as you go. Results vary.
How it is paid for
You pay for each visit yourself, and we give you a written estimate before your first visit.
How fees workWhen to see a doctor first
If your jaw is locked and will not open, or you have swelling, a fever or trouble chewing after an injury, see a physician or dentist first. If something is outside what physical therapy can help with, we say so.
Questions about this care
Do I need to see my dentist first?
Not to start with us. Many people see a dentist too, and with your permission we are glad to share what we find with your dentist or physician.
Will you work inside my mouth?
No. Our care for the jaw is outside the mouth: hands-on work on muscle, and movements you practice.
Start with a conversation
A free 15-minute phone call is a chance to ask about your situation and what a visit involves. It is not a visit.