TMD affects over 80 million adults and 8 million children in the United States and there are very few resources available to treat it.

We are so glad you are here to learn more and what you can do to begin healing.

Does this apply to you?

We would love to show you a new way to heal your jaw pain!

Let’s get clear about some terms before you keep reading.

• TMJ refers to the temporal mandibular joint. You have one TMJ on either side of the jaw, but they are generally referred to as one joint.
• TMD refers to temporal mandibular dysfunction or disorder. There can be a wide range of symptoms that can be lumped into TMD.
• Fascia is a connective tissues system in the body. Fascia surrounds muscles, bones, organs, nerves, joints, and every other tissue in the body. The technique we are using targets tension in the fascia and requires a very different approach than you may be used to using with your body. We call it fascia wellness.

The function of your jaw is important for daily life!

What caused your TMD?

The cause is TMD can be very complex and come from multiple sources (Kaban, 2009). Here is what the research says about the potential causes of TMD.

There are many small muscles and layers of fascia in the jaw area that can make the jaw more susceptible to tension caused by clenching, poor posture or injury.

TMD can start with a mild sense of tension in your jaw. This can progress to sensations of catches or clicking happening in your jaw. The clicking may or may not be painful. Some people feel a sense of relief in the tension when they click their jaw. This can irritate the tissues and actually make the problem worse.

Over time, the tension can build and place pressure on the tissues in this area. Blood flow can be reduced and restrictions in the myofascial tissues can develop.

In addition, the structures of the joint can actually get stuck out of alignment making it difficult to open and close the jaw. Softening the surrounding tissues can help ease the jaw back into the alignment it is designed to be in to function best. This will reduce pain and restore function.

How Do I Know if I Have TMD?

Symptoms may range from mild popping and clicking noises to debilitating migraines or inability to eat. Most people (85%) with TMD also have other diagnoses that may or may not be related to TMD (The TMJ Association, 2022). TMD may include any or all the following:

What is the Best Treatment for TMD?

Aggarwal et al., (2019) reported conservative treatment options including physical and psychosocial interventions are effective and should be started early in the care of TMD and be chosen over invasive, irreversible, and expensive interventions.

If you are having popping, clicking or difficulty using your jaw for any task, start treatment early.

What Do We Do at Mayer Fascia Wellness?

We take a multifaceted individualized approach. Not everyone’s TMD includes the same symptoms. We start with a thorough evaluation of your symptoms and health history. We look closely at your whole-body posture, alignment and mobility including your TMJ. We want to understand your current activities including how you use your body at work, at home and in your leisure and wellness activities. All this information and your priorities help us create a plan just for you. This may include any or all of the below.

• Hands-on myofascial release to open the fascia and take pressure off your tissues. The focus is on the head, jaw, neck and shoulders but may need to be anywhere in the body where fascial restrictions exist.
• Self-myofascial release to continue healing between sessions.
• Posture correction homework (almost everyone needs a little tweaking but most of us need a lot).
• Habit identification, breathing and relaxation homework. Stress is a HUGE factor in TMD. This cannot be ignored.

Not in Omaha? Take our online self-paced course to treat your TMD at home.

---