TMJ and jaw pain treatment in Scottsdale.
A TMJ chiropractor in Scottsdale who treats the jaw and the neck together, because the two share muscles, nerves and habits. Dr. Tracey Ryder uses gentle jaw and upper neck work, acupuncture and massage for clicking, locking and the headaches that come with them.
- In practice since 2003
- Chiropractic, acupuncture and massage in one plan
- Old Town Scottsdale, Scottsdale Road
- 4.9 from 75 Google reviews
What it is
What a chiropractor for TMJ treats
The temporomandibular joint is the hinge just in front of each ear. It opens, closes and slides, thousands of times a day, and it is worked by some of the strongest muscles in the body. When those muscles are overworked by clenching or grinding, when the small disc inside the joint slips, or when the upper neck sits in a position that changes how the jaw closes, the joint clicks, aches, catches or locks. The pain spreads into the temples, the ear and the neck.
Does a chiropractor help TMJ? Yes, when the jaw problem has a muscle and joint mechanics component, which most do. TMJ treatment in Scottsdale at Ryder looks at the jaw joint, the muscles that close it, the upper neck and your posture, and treats all of them. Acupuncture for TMJ in Scottsdale is booked here for the muscle spasm and the headache; TMJ massage in Scottsdale works the masseter, temporalis and the muscles inside the cheek that most people do not know are tight.
If you have been searching for a TMJ chiropractor near me from Old Town, Tempe or south Scottsdale, the office is on Scottsdale Road between McDowell and Thomas. If you have a dentist's night guard, keep wearing it; the two approaches work together.
- Where it hurts
- In front of the ear, the temple, the cheek, into the ear and neck; clicking or locking on opening
- Common causes
- Clenching and grinding, stress, upper neck restriction, forward head posture, a crash, dental work
- What we use
- Gentle jaw and upper neck adjustments, acupuncture, massage of the jaw and neck muscles
- First visit
- History, jaw and neck exam, explanation, first treatment when appropriate; we coordinate with your dentist
What is going on
Why the jaw and the neck cannot be separated
The jaw hangs from the skull, and the skull sits on the upper neck. Push the head forward, as a screen does, and the lower jaw is pulled back, changing how the teeth meet and how the joint disc sits. The muscles that close the jaw share nerve supply with the upper neck, and the two guard together: a clenched jaw comes with a tight neck, and a stiff upper neck comes with a jaw that never fully relaxes. That is why so many people with TMJ also have headaches at the temples and the base of the skull.
Gentle work on the jaw joint and the upper neck restores the mechanics. Acupuncture settles the spasm in the closing muscles. Massage, including inside the cheek, releases the tissue that has been clamped for months. A night guard from your dentist protects the teeth while all of this happens.
Symptoms
What people come in with
TMJ tends to arrive with several of these:
- Clicking or popping on opening
- Jaw that catches or locks
- Pain in front of the ear
- Headaches at the temples
- Sore jaw on waking
- Ear fullness or ringing
- Trouble opening wide
- Pain chewing
- Teeth grinding at night
- Neck stiffness with the jaw pain
If the jaw locked after a crash, see the whiplash page as well.
How we treat it
How we treat TMJ and jaw pain
Joint, muscle and neck together, alongside your dentist.
Chiropractic
Gentle mobilization of the jaw joint and instrument or manual adjustments to the upper neck that changes how the jaw closes. Never forceful.
Acupuncture
Points at the jaw, temple and upper neck for the muscle spasm, the headache and the stress that drives clenching.
Massage
Release of the masseter, temporalis and, with your consent, the pterygoid muscles inside the cheek, plus the neck muscles that guard with the jaw.
Your visit
What a first visit for TMJ is like
During the visit
- When it started, whether you clench or grind, dental history, what makes it worse.
- Exam of how the jaw opens, where it clicks, the closing muscles, the upper neck and posture.
- A plain-language explanation of what the joint is doing.
- First treatment when appropriate.
After the visit
- Many people notice the jaw opening more easily within a visit or two; clicking can take longer to change.
- Habits to work on: tongue position, jaw rest, screen height, and a night guard if you grind.
- A re-check at every visit.
Causes
What commonly causes it
The habits and mechanics behind most jaw pain.
Clenching and grinding
Daytime under stress, night-time without knowing.
Forward head posture
Pulls the jaw back and changes the bite.
Upper neck restriction
Shares nerves and muscles with the jaw.
A crash or a blow
The jaw whips with the head.
Long dental work
Hours open wide strains the joint.
Stress
The jaw is where many people hold it.
When to come in
Dentist or chiropractor for TMJ? Usually both.
Good reasons to book
- Jaw clicking, catching or aching that has lasted more than a couple of weeks.
- TMJ pain with headaches or neck stiffness.
- A night guard that protects the teeth but has not changed the pain.
- Jaw pain after a crash or a blow, once a fracture is ruled out.
- TMJ that flares with stress.
See a dentist or physician first if
- The jaw is locked open or closed and will not move.
- There is swelling, fever or a possible fracture after an injury.
- A tooth or gum problem may be the real source.
- There is facial numbness or drooping.
Your dentist manages the teeth and the bite; we manage the joint, the muscles and the neck. The two work together.
Real questions
What people ask about TMJ.
Searched in Scottsdale Dentist or chiropractor for TMJ, which do I see?
Both, for most people. The dentist protects the teeth and manages the bite, often with a night guard. A chiropractor treats the joint mechanics, the closing muscles and the upper neck that changes how the jaw sits. Neither replaces the other, and Dr. Tracey coordinates with your dentist.
Does a chiropractor help TMJ?
Yes, when the jaw pain has a muscle and mechanics component, which most TMJ does. Gentle work on the jaw joint and the upper neck, with acupuncture and massage for the muscles, addresses the parts a night guard cannot.
Will my jaw stop clicking?
Sometimes. Clicking comes from the joint disc slipping, and whether it settles depends on how long it has been displaced. Pain and catching usually respond sooner than the click itself. Dr. Tracey will tell you what is realistic after the exam.
Is jaw adjusting painful?
No. The jaw is never forced. Work on the joint is gentle mobilization, and the massage inside the cheek is done with your consent and to your tolerance.
Can acupuncture help TMJ?
Yes. Acupuncture for TMJ is one of the more common bookings here, for the muscle spasm, the temple headaches and the stress that drives clenching.
( Book )
Book a visit for TMJ
Call the office or request an appointment online. Tell us where it hurts and how long it has been going on, and we will set up the right first visit.
- Monday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Tuesday
- 8:30 AM to 12 PM
- Wednesday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Thursday
- 2 to 6 PM
- Friday
- 8:30 AM to 6 PM
- Saturday to Sunday
- Closed
Directions in Google Maps
Prefer to talk? Call (480) 900-5280.