TMJ Treatment in Leland, NC

Jaw pain, clicking, and difficulty opening your mouth fully can affect everything from eating to talking to sleeping. At Leland Chiropractic, we help patients throughout Leland, Navassa, Winnabow, and greater Brunswick County find relief from TMJ pain by addressing both the jaw and the surrounding muscles and spine that often contribute to it. 

TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint — the joint that connects your lower jaw (mandible) to your skull, just in front of each ear. When this joint or the muscles surrounding it become inflamed, irritated, or imbalanced, the resulting condition is often called TMJ or TMD (temporomandibular disorder).

TMJ is common — some estimates suggest around 12% of Americans experience TMJ pain at any given time — yet many people don't realize that a chiropractor can help. While TMJ is traditionally thought of as a dentist's concern, chiropractic care offers a non-invasive way to address both the jaw itself and the surrounding muscles, neck, and spine that frequently play a role in TMJ pain.

• Jaw Pain or Soreness: Discomfort in or around the jaw, especially when chewing or biting down.
• Clicking or Popping: Noises in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth.
• Limited Jaw Movement: Difficulty fully opening or closing the mouth, or a jaw that locks or catches.
• Headaches: Tension-type headaches that often accompany TMJ dysfunction.
• Neck Pain and Stiffness: Associated tension in the neck and upper spine.
• Ear Discomfort: Pain, pressure, or ringing (tinnitus) near the ear, even without a dental or ear infection cause.

• Teeth Grinding or Clenching: Also known as bruxism, often related to stress or occurring during sleep.
• Jaw Injury or Trauma: Direct injury to the jaw, or trauma like whiplash, can trigger TMJ dysfunction.
• Bite Misalignment: When the upper and lower teeth don't align properly, it can place uneven stress on the jaw joint.
• Neck and Spinal Misalignment: Because the jaw, neck, and upper spine are closely connected, cervical spine issues can contribute to or worsen TMJ symptoms.
• Stress: Emotional and physical stress often shows up as jaw clenching and muscle tension.
• Degenerative Joint Conditions: Conditions like arthritis can affect the temporomandibular joint over time.

Chiropractic treatment for TMJ focuses on more than just the jaw itself — it looks at the muscles, neck, and spine working together as one system. Because TMJ symptoms and neck pain frequently occur together, addressing spinal alignment is often a key part of lasting TMJ relief. Your treatment plan at Leland Chiropractic may include:

• Chiropractic Adjustments: Correct misalignments in the cervical spine and jaw that contribute to muscular imbalance and TMJ pain.
• Soft Tissue Therapy: Targeted work on the muscles surrounding the jaw to reduce tension and improve function.
• Cold Laser Therapy: Low-level laser therapy can help reduce inflammation and muscle tension contributing to TMJ pain.
• Posture and Lifestyle Guidance: Your chiropractor may recommend habit or stress-management changes to help reduce clenching and grinding that aggravate TMJ symptoms.

• Comprehensive Evaluation: Your chiropractor will assess your jaw's range of motion, alignment, and related neck and spinal function to identify what's contributing to your TMJ symptoms.
• Personalized Treatment Plan: Based on your evaluation, your chiropractor will build a plan combining gentle adjustments, soft tissue work, and supporting therapies as appropriate.
• Ongoing Care and Adjustment: Many patients notice improved jaw function and reduced pain over a series of visits, with your plan adjusted as your symptoms respond.
• Long-Term Relief: Beyond pain relief, your chiropractor will help you understand what's contributing to your TMJ symptoms — including stress or posture habits — and how to help prevent them from returning.

Leland Chiropractic proudly provides TMJ treatment to patients throughout Leland, Navassa, Winnabow, and greater Brunswick County, NC. Whether your jaw pain comes from teeth grinding, an old injury, or tension related to your neck and spine, our team is here to help.