Jaw pain, clicking, popping, or difficulty chewing can be frustrating and painful. These symptoms often stem from dysfunction in the upper neck, even if the jaw itself seems to be the issue.
How is the upper neck related to jaw pain?
- Structural connection: The jaw rests at the top of the neck, meaning any tilt, rotation, or misalignment in the upper cervical spine can directly affect the positioning and mechanics of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
- Nerve influence: The trigeminal nerve, which controls the muscles of chewing, shares a neural pathway with the upper neck through the trigeminocervical nucleus. Misalignment in the neck can disrupt this pathway, leading to pain, tension, or altered jaw function.
- Postural impact: Forward head posture or spinal imbalance can shift the jaw's resting position, adding stress to the TMJ and surrounding musculature.
What about clicking, popping, or instability?
If the TMJ is unstable—marked by frequent clicking, popping, or jaw locking—there may be deeper structural issues at play. In these cases, we:
- Collaborate with TMJ-focused dentists to co-manage care
- Recommend custom dental appliances (nightguards, splints, etc.)
- Often find that once upper neck alignment is corrected, these devices become more effective and more comfortable
Even if you've tried TMJ devices before with little success, aligning the neck first can be the missing piece that allows those treatments to finally work.
How do we help with jaw pain and TMJ dysfunction?
Our first step is always imaging:
- We use cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to capture a 3D image of your upper neck and skull.
- We analyze this image for signs of upper cervical misalignment.
- If misalignment is found, we correct it with a gentle, image-guided adjustment — no twisting, cracking, or high force needed.
