TMJ Dysfunction - Intra Oral Massage

Have you ever had a massage… inside your mouth?! Intra oral massage work simply means that the muscles being targeted for treatment are accessed by the therapist inside the patient’s mouth. The therapist wears a medical exam glove and slowly and gently treating the targeted muscle with light pressure. This treatment is in no way painful or aggressive.  However, if trigger points are involved and need to be released, some discomfort may arise.

How We Treat TMJD?

Your therapist will perform an initial assessment where information is gathered about your health and symptoms. We run through a verbal intake as well as assessing movement patterns and range of motion. Treatment will likely consist of reducing tension in the muscles of mastication (chewing) as well as addressing other muscles that may be involved such as cervical (neck) muscles and even the shoulders. Your therapist may decide to include intra oral massage techniques that would be beneficial as part of the patient’s treatment.

Why It Is Used?

People use massage to help relax and to relieve pain. It can also relieve muscle tension and may improve blood flow, relieve pressure on nerves, and restore normal joint movement.

Risks

When done the right way, massage is considered safe. But talk to your doctor before you get a massage if you:

• Have open wounds.

• Have bruises or areas of weak skin.

• Have a blood clot in a vein.

• Have a bleeding disorder, have low blood platelet counts, or take a medicine (called a blood thinner) that prevents blood clots.