Project Description
TMJ and Posture
Temporo-Mandibular-Disorder (TMD
Temporo-Mandibular-Disorder (TMD) are disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and the nerves associated with chronic facial pain and have many reasons behind it. Next to an uneven bite, stress, and habits next to a bad posture could be one of them.
Impacts On Head Position
The TMJ and the bite (‘occlusion’) plays an important role in postural control. If your bite is uneven (‘malocclusion’) the muscle tension and activity in your body and back specifically will be also uneven. This impacts your head position. When those muscles are unbalanced or ‘over-contracted’, it impacts and pulls the muscles that hold up your head creating a forward posture.
Continues The Full Length Of Your Body
This is mimicked down your body, pulling and stressing your face, neck, shoulders, and back muscles which can result in having a tilted hip or shoulder (one shoulder or hip is higher than the other). The theory that parts of your body are linked (chain theory) explains the relation of TMD and bad posture.
If one part of your chain is stressed, it affects the other parts of the chain and pain can be involved the whole body from toes and heal up through your jaw. This is a slow process and is resulting from functional adaption and realignment of the chain and as a result deviation of parts of the chain will not only interfere with posture but also with the TMJ and the bite (occlusion).
A fully protective occlusal splint (a specific mouth guard worn at night) will help in realigning the chain, adjusting the head posture and this will be reflected on the total body posture. It will also decrease TMJ pain and facial pain.
Reference: Hegab A. TMJ and posture, yes, it’s all connected: the chain theory of body linkage. J Dent Health Oral Disord Ther. 2015;2(6):200-201
If you would like to know more on TMJ and fully occlusal splints please give us a call 07 3221 0443 or Contact Us and we will arrange a consultation at your convenience. Dr. Florian Mack looks forward to having the opportunity to speak with you in our Brisbane City practice or Southport on the Gold Coast, or Toowoomba practice.