Have you heard of Temporomandibular Disorder? 

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and the nerves associated with chronic facial pain. 

If you experience chronic jaw or facial pain, you may be suffering from TMD. The good news is, if you’re in the Denver or Colorado Springs area, Physio Room can help.

Dr. Nate here. A little bit about me – I’m an Osteopractic physiotherapist and a performance strength coach. As a 20-year old veteran of the US Army, I have a passion for maintaining the individual’s body to always be ready for the challenges of physical activity. 

I’ve treated soldiers of all levels and forces, and I specialize in delivering injury prevention, human performance optimization, and holistic rehabilitation. 

In 2022, there was a paper published by the American Academy of manipulative therapy. I’m a senior instructor for that Academy, and my colleagues put together a study that included a control group where the patients received pretty typical TMD treatment that included a splint, some medications and some mobilizations of the TMJ. 

The experimental control group proceeded an advanced intervention to include a manipulation of the upper cervical spine, as well as dry needling of the TMJ and surrounding musculature.

After measuring the pain levels over seven days, treatment continued twice a week for four weeks. The improvement in pain levels was sustained at the three month mark; including both statistical and clinical differences observed in each case. 

So, we know that the treatment process works. Let’s say you think you might have TMD. What next? 

Go visit your dentist. Once you get diagnosed by a treating dentist, you’ll get referred to someone that can help. You will then get evaluated to see if there are any impairments elsewhere in the head, neck and face. This is how the process looks at Physio Room.

If you’re still wondering if this treatment could really work for you, take it from my good friend Tom. He was a Navy veteran of 30 years and had some bilateral TMD. I treated him one time, and five years later, he said he told me that he hasn’t had a problem with his jaw since the treatment.

I used to be co-located with a dentist during my time in the military. A dentist once approached me to look at a patient of his that couldn’t close her jaw. 

With a single manipulation of the upper cervical spine, this issue was resolved. I gotta be honest, I was surprised and so was the patient! But that’s all that it took. 

While the randomized control trial that I previously mentioned took 6-8 treatments for those patients to get jaw pain relief, every once in a while TMD treatment can be a one-and-done treatment. If anything, most patients will at least begin seeing some pain relief after just one treatment. 

After our initial intervention, we will empower our patients so that they can treat themselves at home. This will include some self mobilizations and exercises to prevent further pain from TMD. 

If you are suffering from this debilitating problem, give us a call. We can help and we want to help! 720-316-9974.

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