Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction and Emotional Stress

Effects of clenching and grinding on the body and TMJ

As shown above, clenching and grinding are just a part of a complex symptom picture associated with TMD, and can be understood as either causing or resulting factor of TMD. Moreover, bruxism is viewed by some authors as subconscious effort of the patient to relieve cranial lesions.(Magoun Harold I. & Sutherland Cranial Teaching Foundation., 1976, p. 235)

The following symptoms of TMJ dysfunction are widely accepted within osteopathic community: painful syndromes of head and neck, abnormal muscle habits, headache, earache, tinnitus, intermittent deafness, jaw locking, trismus, accelerated wear of the teeth. (Magoun, 1975)

Body is viewed as a functional unity in osteopathy, thus lesions of TMJ, cranium and neck can have effect on the whole system. Harold I. Magoun Sr. has written: “when mandible assumes an abnormal position it upsets the correct postural maintenance of the body against gravity”.(Magoun, 1975)

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