Services → Specialty Therapy → TMJ Therapy
PHYSICAL THERAPY IN WILMINGTON, DE
TMJ Therapy
Specialized physical therapy for jaw pain, clicking, locking, and TMJ dysfunction.
What Is TMJ Dysfunction?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull on each side of your face. When this joint or the muscles around it don’t function properly, it can cause pain, limited jaw movement, and a range of symptoms that affect daily life.
Common TMJ symptoms include:
- Jaw pain or tenderness — especially when chewing, talking, or yawning
- Clicking, popping, or grinding in the jaw joint
- Jaw locking — difficulty opening or closing the mouth fully
- Headaches — often mistaken for tension headaches or migraines
- Ear pain or fullness — without an ear infection
- Neck and shoulder tension — the jaw and cervical spine are closely connected
- Bruxism — clenching or grinding, especially at night
TMJ dysfunction can result from jaw injury, arthritis, teeth grinding, stress-related clenching, or poor posture (especially forward head posture from desk work). Many people have had symptoms for months or years before learning that physical therapy can help.
How We Treat TMJ
Our TMJ evaluation is comprehensive — we assess your jaw movement, cervical spine mobility, posture, muscle tone, and bite alignment. Many TMJ patients also have cervical spine involvement, so we evaluate the full picture.
Treatment typically includes:
- Manual therapy to the jaw — intra-oral and external techniques to restore normal joint mechanics
- Cervical spine treatment — because neck dysfunction frequently contributes to TMJ symptoms
- Postural correction — addressing forward head posture and upper back tightness
- Jaw exercises — to improve range of motion, coordination, and muscle balance
- dry needling — for trigger points in the masseter, temporalis, and cervical muscles
- Patient education — dietary modifications, sleep positioning, and stress management strategies
We often work in coordination with your dentist or oral surgeon when appropriate. Many patients see significant improvement within 4–6 weeks of consistent treatment.
Schedule Today
No referral needed*. Most insurance accepted including Medicare.
Or call: 302-995-2100