Treating conditions that cause TMJ pain in Kentwood, MI

Your jaw is connected to the rest of your skull by a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) on each side of your skull. This joint is what allows you to open and close your mouth. When it’s in pain, many activities like talking, smiling and eating are more difficult. Fortunately, there are treatments for conditions that cause TMJ pain.

At Advent Physical Therapy in Kentwood, Michigan, we can treat TMJ pain with techniques that don’t rely on side effect-inducing drugs or risky surgical procedures. Each treatment for TMJ pain is personalized for the individual, but you can generally expect it to include:

• Therapeutic exercise
• Manual therapy
• Dry needling

These techniques and more can be used to treat a variety of conditions that cause TMJ pain. Take a look below at some of the reasons you may need to visit our clinic in Kentwood for TMJ pain treatment.

Conditions that can cause TMJ pain

• Arthritis — Arthritis damages the cartilage in the joints of your body, which may include the TMJ. It’s painful to use the jaw when the cartilage is damaged, and there is a decrease in its range of motion.
• Overuse — Overuse of the jaw, such as chewing tough food or laughing and talking too much, can cause soreness in the TMJ. This kind of pain is usually temporary, but sometimes it can last for days.
• Grinding your teeth — Grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw can strain the tendons around the TMJ. This may cause inflammation that leads to pain and loss of mobility in the joint.
• Genetics — Some people are born with a genetic predisposition for TMJ pain. If TMJ pain runs in your family, you may want to talk to your health care provider about prevention.
• Traumatic injury — An impact to the jaw or face can cause strain or fractures in the TMJ.

Visit Advent Physical Therapy in Kentwood for TMJ pain treatment

If one of the joints in your jaw hurts when you try to use your mouth, you may need to see a physical therapist for TMJ treatment. At Advent Physical Therapy in Kentwood, we can examine your TMJ symptoms and develop a custom treatment plan according to your needs. Contact our team today for more information about TMJ treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.