TMJ Disorders, Jaw Pain & the Atlas - Finding the Hidden Cause | Upper Cervical Chiropractor Spokane

Dr Jeffrey Hannah
Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor @ Clear Chiropractic
Spokane, Washington
p | 509-315-8166
w | DrJeffreyHannah.com
w | ClearChiroSpokane.com
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There are two general categories of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders:
1. Structural TMJ disorders
2. Neuromuscular TMJ disorders.
Structural TMJ disorders are usually caused when there is a problem with the structure or alignment of your teeth or with your cranial bones. In brief, your upper palate dictates how your teeth fit together. Therefore, if your jaw resets itself into the wrong position every time your chew or swallow, you will need to work with a neuromuscular dentist to resolve the issue.
Neuromuscular TMJ disorders are usually caused by a misalignment with the vertebrae in your upper neck because of their influence on the nerves that control the muscles that coordinate your jaw movements. This is where an upper cervical chiropractor is able to help by unlocking that delicate area of your spine so that your jaw muscles can let go on their own.
When it comes to finding out which type of TMJ disorder you have, you can't tell based on symptoms alone:
Clicking
Grinding
Popping
Clenching
Locking
Pain
Dizziness or Vertigo
Tinnitus
Anxiety
All of these TMJ symptoms can be coming from your teeth or from your upper neck. The easiest way to tell the difference is to look in the mirror how you open your jaw:
If your mouth opens in a straight line, that is usually normal.
If your mouth opens sideways, that is usually a sign of a dental problem.
If youth mouth zig-zags sideways, that is usually a sign of neck problem.
Of course, it can also be a combination of both. One way or another, if you experience TMJ problems, it is important to identify the true underlying cause because so many TMJ disorders are never properly diagnosed.
In this video, for example, I am reviewing a case for a colleague who has a patient who experiences tinnitus, TMJ pain, etc, ... but they don't think its actually coming from his neck. On review, I actually see things that suggest this person is actually clear from a chiropractic perspective, but instead needs to work with a neuromuscular dentist. (Conversely, I have worked with many dentists over the years who have found it much easiest to work with TMJ disorders when the upper neck is properly aligned. ...Its kind of like swimming with the current instead of against it.)
The hallmark here is the compression of the disc on the inside of the jaw. Despite the commonly held belief, the resting position of your jaw is NOT in the exact upper-middle part of your jaw socket. It is actually toward the lower frontal pole so that there is adequate space for the cartilage that allows your jaw to open smoothly. So if your jaw is shoved too far back, it effectively compresses this cartilage, which is what causes the characteristic symptoms of a TMJ disorder.
Again, TMJ disorders can be caused by dental problems, but they can also be caused by upper neck problems as well. In this particular case, it appears to be a dental issue. One way or another, it is critical to find the true underlying cause in order to get the right kind of treatment.
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The Blair technique is a special division of general chiropractic that focuses on the alignment, motion and stability of the atlas vertebra because of its unique relationship with your nervous system, which controls every function in your body. Unlike general spinal manipulation, there is no twisting, cracking or stretching.
The Blair technique is a gentle and precise approach that utilizes a series of physical, neurological and diagnostic tests in order to provide the highest level of personalized healthcare.
When your atlas is aligned, your body has the potential to be healthy. However, when it is misalignment, your brain and body (simply put) are not able to work as efficiently as they otherwise would, and the inevitable consequence is where problems start to occur.
The big idea of the Blair technique is that by restoring the normal alignment, motion and stability at the junction between your head and neck, your own nervous system and its innate mechanisms are free and able to do what your body is designed to do: heal itself. And when that force is able to flow freely through your body from above-down, inside-out, anything it possible.
Call us to schedule an appointment at 509-315-8166.
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Dr Jeffrey Hannah
Blair Upper Cervical Chiropractor @ Clear Chiropractic
Spokane, Washington
w | drjeffreyhannah.com
w | clearchirospokane.com