Jaw Pain & TMJ Dysfunction

The jaw is one of the most used joints in the body — and one of the least treated.

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction covers a range of problems affecting the jaw joint and surrounding muscles — clicking, locking, pain with chewing or speaking, restricted opening, and referred pain into the face, ear, head and neck. Many people have had these symptoms for years without being told they're treatable.

TMJ issues are also closely linked to headaches, neck pain and sleep disturbance — the jaw, the skull, the cervical spine and the nervous system are all functionally connected, and dysfunction in one area frequently shows up as symptoms in another.

What drives TMJ dysfunction

The most common drivers are muscle tension (from clenching, grinding or postural habits), disc displacement within the joint, and altered mechanics between the two sides of the jaw. Stress is a major contributor — the masseter and surrounding muscles are among the most tension-responsive in the body, and chronic psychological load often shows up first in the jaw.

Poor cervical posture also directly affects TMJ mechanics. Forward head posture changes the resting position of the mandible and increases load on the joint — which is why jaw treatment without addressing the neck often produces incomplete results.

How Dr Chase approaches it

Assessment covers the jaw joint, the surrounding musculature (including the masseter, pterygoids and temporalis), the cervical spine, and the base of the skull. The relationship between jaw mechanics and cervical posture is always assessed — they're rarely independent problems.

Treatment draws from soft tissue work through the jaw muscles, gentle joint mobilisation, cranio-sacral techniques addressing the temporal bones and sphenoid, and cervical spine treatment where indicated. For people with significant clenching or grinding, the neurological and nervous system components are also addressed — because the jaw often can't fully release while the nervous system remains in a protective state.

Jaw dysfunction often goes unrecognised for a long time. If you've been dealing with jaw pain, clicking, headaches or facial tension, it's worth getting a proper assessment.