by Rebecca DeCoster
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, or TMJD, is all too common these days, and many of the standard approaches to addressing painful problems in the jaw area have to do with treating the structures of the mouth. Because not all TMJ problems begin in the mouth, this usually means the causative factors, unfortunately, aren’t addressed. In fact, many sufferers of TMJ pain have layers of compensatory strategies elsewhere in their body tissues. These movement strategies may have affected the balance of the pelvis, developing over months, years, or decades, and are often related to old, (often) forgotten, injuries. If there are any torquing or rotational forces happening at the lower end of the spine, each spinal segment, all the way up to the base of the skull (or cranial base), will eventually be affected. A torqued or twisted cranial base will affect how the temporal bones align on either side of it, and they are what the jaw articulates with.
Craniosacral therapy identifies compensation patterns in the body, then works to allow the whole system to re-harmonize. In other words, helping the body to learn to move without falling back into old coping strategies. Working inside the mouth can also help support this rebalancing process. Using gentle touch, CST works with the bones of the face to make sure they all have a little bit of wiggle room in their respective locations. If bones don’t have any wiggle room, it’s because they’ve been compressed by outside forces and/or physical manifestations of stress. Helping the bones have a little more spaciousness allows them to find improved balance and symmetry in movement, alleviating pain and improving range of motion in the jaw. While benefits are often noticeable right away, it is recommended to try and do 3-5 sessions in a 4-8 week period to get a sense of how your body will respond to the changes. Well-established problems may take a little longer to get relief from treatment, as these movement strategies can take time to re-educate. Even if you have already tried expensive dental procedures to address the issue, CST will help the body find a new equilibrium around the mouth and improve functioning. While there are no guarantees, I have found that most people respond well and do not require long term treatment (though they usually like the work so much that they like to come back for a periodic tune-up!)
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