Everything You Need
to Understand Your TMJ

Common signs include jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds, jaw locking, headaches (especially at the temples), ear pain with no infection, facial pressure, neck stiffness, and difficulty chewing. The only way to confirm and understand the specific nature of your TMJ dysfunction is a proper clinical assessment. Use our free self-assessment guide as a starting point.

Most patients see significant improvement within 6–10 sessions, with full resolution typically achieved between 8–16 sessions depending on chronicity and complexity. Simple presentations can resolve in 4–6. Cases with advanced arthritic changes, post-surgical complications, or long-standing myofascial dysfunction may require more. We set realistic expectations in your first appointment.

For some patients, yes. Night guards are designed to protect teeth from grinding — which they do effectively. But they don't address the underlying neuromuscular cause of bruxism, and certain types of splints can alter bite mechanics in ways that worsen joint loading. Whether your specific guard is helping or hurting depends on your presentation. We evaluate this in your first session.

No referral is required to book a physiotherapy appointment in Ontario (and most other Canadian provinces). You can book directly online or by phone. Some extended health insurance plans require a physician referral for reimbursement — check with your insurer before your first appointment.

Physiotherapy is covered by most extended health benefit plans. TMJ physiotherapy is billed the same as standard physiotherapy. We direct bill to most major insurers. Coverage amounts vary by plan — typically $500–$2,000 per year. We recommend checking your specific coverage before starting, and we're happy to help you understand what to expect.

This is the most common thing we hear — and it's a valid question. General physiotherapy is not TMJ physiotherapy. The assessment protocols, treatment techniques, and clinical reasoning are fundamentally different. A physiotherapist trained in shoulders and knees treating a TMJ patient is working outside their area of expertise, just as a TMJ specialist would be unqualified to manage ACL rehabilitation. The difference in outcomes is significant.

Some components of assessment and follow-up can be done virtually, including reviewing your history, explaining your diagnosis, designing your home exercise program, and monitoring progress. Hands-on manual therapy requires in-person treatment. For patients outside our 10 locations, we offer virtual consultations to assess your situation and provide guidance on what to look for in a local practitioner.

When the root cause is properly identified and treated, results are typically long-lasting. Patients who complete their full treatment plan and follow-through on their home exercise program rarely return with the same presenting complaint. Stress management and postural habits are often part of the long-term maintenance plan. We give every patient the tools to maintain their own progress.