Are You struggling With Pain & Discomfort From TMJ?
TMJ disorder affects more than just your jaw. Headaches, ear pain, dizziness, teeth grinding, and even tingling in your fingers can all trace back to dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint. At Chiro 4 All Health Center, Dr. Tyler Flores offers non-surgical TMJ treatment in Richmond, TX, addressing the root cause of your symptoms so you can get back to feeling like yourself. If you're ready to find out what's driving your pain, we're ready to help.
Non-Surgical TMJ Pain Treatment
Chiropractor in Richmond, TX
The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) is a complex joint that allows for opening and closing of the mouth. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a unique joint that connects the mandible to the skull via an intricate suspension system of ligaments and muscles. These small muscles that are used for chewing are considered some of the strongest muscles in the body. The TMJ works with many systems to perform chewing, stabilizing the spine and even the upper shoulder girdle. This joint can become inflamed and cause chronic pain greatly affecting your quality of life.
TMJ pain is also known as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). TMD can begin due to disc displacement, whiplash incidents, malocclusion, teeth grinding, arthritis and systemic diseases. TMD left untreated can lead to long term implications which is why early detection is important.
TMJ pain produces a multitude of symptoms that a patient can experience such as:
- Migraine like headaches
- Tooth Pain
- Teeth Grinding
- Numbness or tingling of fingers
- Dizziness
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
- Pain behind eyes
- Earaches or tinnitus (ringing in ears) or ear fullness
- Pain in or around the jaw joints
- Jaw Crepitus (grinding sound)
- Jaw Clicking or popping
- Jaw Locking or limited range of motion
Can TMJ Cause Dizziness?
Yes, and it's more common than most people realize. Because the TMJ sits close to the inner ear, joint inflammation and muscle spasms can disrupt your vestibular system, leading to TMJ dizziness, lightheadedness, or unsteadiness. Patients often ask how to stop TMJ dizziness without realizing the jaw is involved at all. By treating the underlying dysfunction, Dr. Flores helps many patients resolve both their jaw pain and their dizziness together.
What's Really Behind Your TMJ Jaw Pain?
TMJ jaw pain happens when the temporomandibular joint, the hinge connecting your jaw to your skull, falls out of balance. Common triggers include disc displacement, whiplash, bite misalignment, and chronic muscle tension. At Chiro 4 All, Dr. Flores examines both your jaw mechanics and posture to get to the root cause, using jaw mobilization, myofascial release, and posture correction to help relieve jaw pain from TMJ for good.
TMJ and Teeth Grinding
Does teeth grinding cause TMJ?
It can, and existing TMJ disorder can make grinding worse, creating a painful cycle. The repetitive stress of bruxism strains the jaw joint, wears down cartilage, and drives inflammation over time. We treat and train the joint and muscle dysfunction while coordinating with trusted local dentists for intra-oral appliances when needed.
How We Treat TMJ
TMJ disorders can be very painful. Dr. Flores will first address symptoms control. Symptoms control is not a permanent fix; however, it will help much of the pain associated with TMD. During the first phase of care, Dr. Flores will attempt to break the cycle of muscle spasms and inflammation, thereby relieving pain. The second phase of care will attempt to break the cycle of pain with more permanent means of treatment. The TMJ is a complex joint that requires its muscular components to function optimally. The joint will stay in proper alignment and will work well if imbalances are corrected. We accomplish this by ensuring both sides of the jaw muscles are of equal length to prevent uneven pulling of the jaw complex.
Non-Surgical TMJ Treatments can include:
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Referral for an Intra-Oral Appliance
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Posture Correction
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Strengthening Exercises
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Myofascial Release Techniques
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Manipulative Therapy
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Jaw Mobilization/Manipulation
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Laser Therapy
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Activity Modification
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Dry Needling
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Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy and more
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with a proper evaluation to identify the root cause — not all TMJ cases are the same. Dr. Flores will assess your jaw mechanics, posture, and history to build a personalized, non-surgical treatment plan. Early care typically leads to faster and more lasting relief.
It depends on the severity of your condition and how long it's been present. Many patients begin noticing relief within the first few visits, while more complex or long-standing cases may require a longer course of care. Dr. Flores will give you a clear treatment plan after your initial examination so you know what to expect.
TMJ disorder can contribute to throat irritation, muscle tension in the neck and jaw, and even airway changes that may trigger a chronic cough or throat-clearing. While coughing isn't the most common TMJ symptom, it's worth investigating if you have other TMJ symptoms and no other explanation for the cough. A thorough evaluation can help determine whether your TMJ is playing a role.
Yes, TMJ dysfunction can cause numbness or tingling in the fingers through a chain reaction of muscle tension and nerve involvement. When the jaw is misaligned, it often affects the neck and upper spine, which can compress or irritate the nerves that travel down into the arms and hands. Addressing the TMJ disorder at the source is often what resolves these seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Getting started with jaw pain treatment in Richmond is simple — just book online or reach out to Chiro 4 All Health Center to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Flores. During your first visit, he'll review your medical history, examine your jaw mechanics and posture, and put together a personalized non-surgical treatment plan. From there, you'll have a clear picture of what's causing your pain and exactly what it'll take to fix it.
Get Started With TMJ Pain Relief Today
During your consultation, Dr. Flores will examine you and your medical history to determine your best course of care. Dr. Flores uses an integrative approach. He works with several dentists in the area to provide the best treatment possible for his patients. After the examination, he will provide you with a comprehensive non-surgical treatment plan on how best to treat your condition.
