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
- Total Contraindications which entirely preventing you receiving massage treatment in any area of your body for the good of your health
- Special Circumstances where written or verbal Medical Consent and any guidelines for treatment are required before it is possible to receive a massage treatment
- Local Contraindications which prevent you receiving massage in certain areas or in certain ways for the good of your health. Local Contraindications can also include medical conditions that must remain covered during your treatment to ensure no cross contamination or potential infection occurs
Please note: should you arrive for any massage based Appointment with any medical condition without already having checked that it is suitable for treatment the following will apply:
- I may have to look up your medical condition during your Appointment to make sure that treating you is appropriate; and
- I may be unable to provide you with a massage during your Appointment or restricted in my capacity to do so
Please be aware the below Appointment lengths are general guidelines only:
45 Minutes: | A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism |
1 Hour: | A TMJ Dysfunction treatment; or
A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism with self release techniques advice provided |
90 Minutes: | A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism and/or TMJ Dysfunction treatment with associated headaches or migraines treatment; or
A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism and 30 minutes of additional Therapies; or A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism and TMJ Dysfunction treatment with self release techniques advice provided |
2 Hours: | A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism and/or TMJ Dysfunction treatment with associated headaches or migraines and 30 minutes of additional Therapies; or
A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism and 1 hour of additional Therapies; or A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism and TMJ Dysfunction treatment and 1 hour of additional Therapies; or A Jaw release treatment for symptoms of clenching and Bruxism and TMJ Dysfunction treatment with self release techniques advice provided and 30 minutes of additional Therapies |