Pain in the jaw joint—clinically known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD)—is incredibly common. It affects up to 30% of adults, most frequently between the ages of 20 and 40, and is the second most common cause of facial pain after a toothache.
While TMD isn’t life-threatening, the daily grinding, clicking, and discomfort can severely impact your quality of life.
At 96th Street Chiropractic in Indianapolis, we focus on safe, non-invasive solutions to help you find lasting relief from jaw pain.
TMD rarely travels alone. For many, it is a primary trigger for chronic headaches. Most commonly, patients experience sharp or dull pain during everyday jaw movements, including:
Chewing and biting
Yawning
Talking or laughing
Pinpointing the exact cause of TMD can be tricky because the jaw is a complex system of muscles, ligaments, and a small internal disc. It can be caused by physical trauma (like whiplash from a car accident), teeth grinding (bruxism), or stress.
Medical guidelines strongly recommend trying conservative, reversible treatments before ever considering irreversible options like surgery or tooth reshaping.
Because TMD involves both the joint and the surrounding muscles, a combination approach usually yields the best results.
Recent research highlights that combining dental mouthguards (to stop nighttime teeth grinding) with targeted soft-tissue massage over the jaw muscles (the masseter and temporalis) provides significantly better pain relief than using a mouthguard alone.
Many people are surprised to learn that chiropractors treat TMJ issues. Because your jaw mechanics are intimately linked to your neck, alignment matters.
At 96th Street Chiropractic, our targeted approach includes:
Upper Cervical Adjustments: Gentle manipulation and mobilization of the upper neck (where the skull meets the spine) to relieve nerve pressure and restore proper alignment.
Muscle Imbalance Therapy: Relaxing and balancing the tight muscles in the jaw, neck, and upper torso that pull the joint out of alignment.
Co-Managed Care: Working alongside your dentist’s nightguard protocol to maximize your relief.
By addressing the root structural issues in the neck and jaw together, we help restore normal, pain-free movement to your bite.
You don’t have to live with a clicking, painful jaw or the tension headaches that come with it. Let our team help you find a safe, conservative path to relief.
Call 96th Street Chiropractic today at 317-598-9696 to schedule your consultation at our Indianapolis office!
Our unique techniques and processes enable us to properly identify and treat the source of the issue, as well as correct spinal misalignments. We help people with a variety of health conditions in our Indianapolis office every day.
Includes a Detailed Consultation, Painless Examination, Any Necessary X-rays and Chiropractic Treatment $120
We’re committed to getting you on the path to optimal health. To get started, contact our office to book your first appointment where we will build you a health plan, and answer any questions!
