The temporomandibular (tem-puh-roe-man-DIB-u-lur) joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have one joint on each side of your jaw. TMJ disorders — a type of temporomandibular disorder or TMD — can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.
The exact cause of a person’s TMJ disorder is often difficult to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of factors, such as genetics, arthritis, or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth (bruxism), although many people habitually clench or grind their teeth and never develop TMJ disorders.
In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders are temporary and can be relieved with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is typically a last resort after conservative measures have failed, but some people with TMJ disorders may benefit from surgical treatments.
Therapeutic Laser works at a number of fundamental levels in order to address inflammation and pain within the body. We use Low-Level Laser to balance the lymphatic system and encourage the distribution of white blood cells to the necessary areas of the body for healing. During this process a biological process takes place in the cell mitochondria, increasing the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) to speed up the body’s healing mechanisms. Most importantly in the cases of orthopedic conditions, Low-Level Laser reduces inflammation. At the same time, endorphins are released into the bloodstream, to create the additional benefit of a natural pain relief treatment, reducing the need for pharmaceutical medication.
