Jaw

Osteopathy can be an effective therapy to help and improve your jaw functionality.

Jaw anatomy:

The jaw joint is also called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), located in the face, just in front of the ears.

It has the function to open and close the mouth, chew, swallow, speak, yawn and also support facial expression and breathing.

It is formed by different structures:

• Jawbone (mandible bone), down the face, that moves when open and close the mouth

• Skull bone (temporal bone), connects to the skull

• Disc, like a small cushion between the mandible and temporal bones, to help the jaw glide and prevent the bones from rubbing

• Muscles: masseter, temporal, lateral and medial pterygoid, digastric, geniohyoid, mylohyoid, styloid, hyoglossus, genioglossus, chondroglossus, sternohyoid, omohyoid, thyrohyoid

• Ligaments: medial and lateral collateral temporomandibular, stylomandibular, sphenomandibular and pterygomandibular

The key nerve around the jaw is the trigeminal nerve with its mandibular branch.

The jaw is supplied by several major blood vessels, most notably the facial artery and branches of the maxillary artery.

Osteopathic treatment for the jaw:

What osteopathy can help with:

• Temporomandibular dysfunction, with pain and restriction of the movement of the jaw, exacerbated by clicking and locking

• Jaw muscle tension, often associated with stress and anxiety

• Clenching and grinding teeth, also called bruxism

How osteopathy can help:

Different osteopathic techniques around the jaw can relieve muscle tension, improve joint movement, and reduce pain. These include also intra-oral techniques around the muscles and ligaments.

The jaw is closely connected to the neck, head, posture, and even stress levels, so osteopathic treatment works by improving balance across all these areas.

Evidence-based based also showed positive improvements of self-management exercises to improve your jaw – check out the video on Youtube or in the section 'videos' down the blog page, that Giulia has recorded to help you release the tension of some masticatory muscles!

References:

• Aklar, A., Bal, B.,Taşdelen, N., İnal, H. S. and Ertas, G. (2025), ‘The Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Adjunct on Stabilization Splint Treatment in Temporomandibular Joint Anterior Disc Displacement with Reduction Disorder: A Quantitative Analysis, Pilot Study’, J. Clin. Med., 14(8), 2544.

• Cuccia A. M., Caradonnaa, C., Annunziata, V. and Caradonnaa D. (2010), ‘Osteopathic manual therapy versus conventional conservative therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular disorders: A randomised controlled trial’, Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 14(2), 179-184.

• Pawłowski, J., Pawłowska, K. M. and Grochulska, A. (2024), ‘Osteopathy treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction in young teens’, Journal of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research, 18(4), 299-302.