TMJ, Prosper Family Dentistry

Page 3
Frisco Massage Therapy Magazine
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Contributed by: Summer Brice
DDS, Jill H. Sentlinger DDS, FAGD,
and Cara Kessler DDS
July 2025
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Prosper Family Dentistry
972-347-1145
Everyone has a TMJ (temporomandibular joint), but not everyone has TMD (temporomandibular disorder).
The TMJ is the joint that helps your jaw move when you talk, eat, yawn, or chew. It allows your jaw to open, close, move
forward, backward, and side to side. Sometimes, the muscles and ligaments around this joint can become irritated or
strained, leading to TMD. Common symptoms include: jaw pain, headaches, tight jaw muscles, clicking or popping
sounds, difficulty opening your mouth, and even tooth pain or damage.
Many people dealing with TMD are looking for relief without surgery. Dentists can help by offering treatments
like mouth splints, bite adjustments, pain-relieving medications, laser therapy and helpful tips for home care. It’s
important to know that while these options can ease your pain, they may not completely fix the problem. In some cases,
even surgery doesn’t fully solve it. The main goal is to reduce your symptoms and improve your comfort as much as
possible. Since TMD varies from person to person, your treatment should be tailored to your specific needs. That’s why
it’s important to see your dentist for a proper evaluation.
Massage
therapy is another great option that we recommend patients to seek in conjunction with the
treatments prescribed above. Many patients who’ve had massages focused on the TMJ area have noticed a big
improvement in their pain. The goal of these massages is to help relieve the physical tension, nerve sensitivity, and even
emotional stress that often come with TMD. If you’re dealing with TMD (temporomandibular disorder), massage
therapy can be a simple and effective way to feel better. TMD often causes tight, sore muscles in your jaw, face, neck,
and shoulders. When these muscles are tense, it can make everyday things like talking, chewing, or yawning
uncomfortable.
Massage therapy helps by:
Relaxing your jaw muscles – This can make it easier to move your jaw and reduce pain.
Increasing blood flow – Good circulation helps your body heal and calms inflammation.
Lowering stress and tension – Many people with TMD clench or grind their teeth, especially when stressed. Massage
can help you relax and ease that tension.
Easing related symptoms – Massage can also help with headaches, earaches, and facial pain that often come with
TMD.
When done by someone trained
in treating TMD, massage therapy
is a safe and gentle option. It
works even better when
combined with care from
your dentist and simple
home habits. Many
people find regular
massage gives
them real relief
and helps them
feel more
comfortable
day to day.
Frisco Massage Therapy
is a proud referral partner to Prosper
Family Dentistry for TMD massage
therapy and related massage
management care. Our
advanced TMD trained
team provides the latest
innovations for intraoral
therapy, cranium and
neck tension release,
along with active
recovery tools.

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