Conditions We Treat
TMJ disorders — jaw pain, clicking, locking, and the headaches that come with them — respond well to focused physical therapy. We treat the joint, the chewing muscles, and the neck and posture patterns that drive most of the symptoms.
TMJ disorder is dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint — the hinge connecting your jaw to your skull. It can involve the joint itself, the chewing muscles, or both. Common drivers are clenching and grinding (bruxism), poor head and neck posture, prior dental or orthodontic work, and stress. The good news: most cases are mechanical and resolve with structured PT and behavioral changes.
Jaw pain on one or both sides, clicking or popping when opening or chewing, limited mouth opening (trismus), lockjaw (open or closed), tension headaches behind the eyes or temples, ear pain or fullness without an ENT cause, and neck pain that travels into the jaw.
60-minute evaluation with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We assess jaw mobility, muscle tenderness, neck range of motion, and posture. We screen for red flags that need a dentist or oral surgeon. First treatment happens the same visit. A typical course is 6–10 visits over 4–8 weeks.
Hands-on manual therapy of the jaw and surrounding muscles, dry needling of the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles when indicated, soft palate and intraoral techniques (with consent and proper hygiene), neck and upper-back mobility work, and re-training of tongue posture, breathing, and jaw mechanics. We coordinate with your dentist or orthodontist if you're working with one on a splint or appliance.
Medicare, CareFirst, Aetna, United, and Tricare typically cover PT for TMJ disorders. Self-pay is $150 per session. Direct access in DC, MD, and VA.
Same-week evaluations at Capitol Hill, Bethesda, and in-home throughout the DMV.
Book a TMJ EvaluationMost patients see meaningful improvement in 4–6 weeks. Chronic clenchers and grinders take longer because the muscle patterns are deeply ingrained — but the trajectory is the same.
No — DC, MD, and VA are direct-access. That said, if your TMJ is driven primarily by occlusion (bite) issues, working in parallel with a dentist or orthodontist gives the best result.
Sometimes. We don't fit appliances — your dentist does that. We focus on the muscular and joint components, which usually resolves a meaningful portion of symptoms on its own.
Yes, when performed by a PT trained in the technique. We use it for masseter and temporalis trigger points that drive a lot of TMJ-related muscle pain.
Often, yes. Tension-type and temple headaches are common with TMJ disorder because the chewing muscles and the surrounding fascia refer pain to the head.
Yes — both closed lock (can't open fully) and open lock (jaw stuck open). Treatment depends on cause and chronicity. Open lock with sudden onset needs urgent care; closed lock is typically PT-responsive.