The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jaw bone (also known as the mandible) to the skull. Up to 12% of people suffer from Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD), most often affecting people between the ages of 20-40.

Common reasons for TMD include:

  • dental work

  • accidents (such as motor vehicle accidents) and injuries to the jaw, head or neck

  • chronic conditions such as arthritis

  • bruxism (clenching and grinding the teeth)

  • poor posture, including head forward posture

At Ladner Village Physiotherapy, our registered massage therapist Gabrielle de Winter and our physiotherapists Stephanie Yip and Devon Konrad assess and treat people with TMD.

Want to know more? Click here for a link to our blogs posts about the TMJ.

Common symptoms associated with TMD include:

  • Pain or tenderness along the jaw and jaw muscles

  • Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints

  • Pain in the face

  • Tooth pain

  • Headaches

  • Pain in and around the ear

  • Difficulty opening the mouth

  • Jaws that get stuck, lock or “go out”

  • Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing

  • Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears

  • Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth

  • Teeth grinding

What should I expect during my assessment?

Your therapist will look at your whole state of wellness as TMD is often a multifaceted issue. Movements of the jaw will be assessed as well as movements of the neck and shoulders.

Some muscles and structures are treated around the jaw, up into the scalp and down the neck and shoulders. Some muscles and structures are only accessible from inside of the mouth; these are assessed and treated with gloved hands with additional consent. 

As always, you may decide to stop or alter treatment at any time.

Ladner Village Physiotherapy exists in what is colonially known as Delta, on the traditional, occupied and unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking people. As health care providers, we actively strive to understand the role of intergenerational trauma and health inequities applied through systemic and institutionalized racism with the goal of providing equitable and person-centred health care for all.