What is Jaw Dysfunction Therapy?

Jaw Dysfunction Therapy is for you if you are prone to grinding you teeth or clenching your jaw (also known as Bruxism), whether due to stress or anxiety during the day or at night when you sleep where the suspected reasons are due to Sleep Apnea (stopping breathing during sleep), crooked or missing teeth or an abnormal bite. These habits or conditions can cause muscle tightness, pain, headaches and/or damage to your teeth.

Additionally you may have been advised your have a problem with your Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ), and have been diagnosed with a medical condition called Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMD or TMJD) which can cause pain in the Temporomandibular (jaw) Joint and the Masseter muscles that open and close the jaw. TMJ Dysfunction can occur due to one or more of the following: Jaw Injury, Genetic Inheritance and/or Arthritis.

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction is often accompanied by Trigeminal Neuralgia (nerve pain in the face or side of the head) which can be treated with Remedial Massage and/or Medical Acupuncture (Dry Needling), as can muscular tightness associated with jaw clenching or grinding of the teeth.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION DURING THE SARS-CoV-2 PANDEMIC

No treatment to the face is being undertaken during the current stage of the pandemic, except where considered absolutely essential by Focused Therapy London in relation to Jaw Dysfunction Therapy. Where facial treatment occurs you will still be required to wear a surgical fluid resistant face mask, which will be provided to you free of charge.

Where direct facial treatment is not considered essential, significant relief is often still achievable through techniques used in the surrounding areas, such as the scalp, neck and the area behind the ears.

What are the main objectives of Jaw Dysfunction Therapy?

Relief from the symptoms associated with clenching your teeth, Bruxism and/or TMJ Dysfunction, including Trigeminal Neuralgia when it is an associated symptom. As a part of this therapy, if wanted, I also include advice on self release techniques which can be used at home should you wish to work on some of the lesser symptoms yourself.

What are the symptoms of clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth and TMJ Dysfunction?

Symptoms of clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth can result in either one or more of the following. Symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction, especially if severe, can result in many or all of following:

  • Tooth wear
  • Headaches
  • Migraines
  • Clicking in the Temporomandibular Joint
  • Discomfort in the Masseter (jaw closing) muscles
  • Associated facial, scalp, neck and shoulder pain, tightness and/or discomfort
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia (neurological pain)
  • Inability to open the mouth – in extreme cases only able to eat through a straw
  • Temporomandibular (jaw) joint duress and/or instability
  • Tooth wear
  • Cracking of a tooth or teeth

In many cases these symptoms can lead to your dentist prescribing you with a custom made mouth guard to prevent wear on your teeth and to ease some of the associated pain that comes with these conditions. In more severe cases, there may become a need undertake costly tooth repair. If Trigeminal Neuralgia is also diagnosed, medication is prescribed or other medical treatments are utilised in an effort to treat the nerve pain that is generated over the one or more of the branches of the Trigeminal Nerve pathway.

Additional Information in relation to Jaw Dysfunction Therapy