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TMJ Headache Treatment in Atlanta

Headaches at your temples, worse with chewing or clenching? They may be coming from your jaw. Hands-on TMJ care at our clinics in Roswell and Dunwoody.

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Why TMJ Physical Therapy

Care built around your jaw

TMJ and orofacial pain is all we treat. We help patients across greater Atlanta get relief without surgery.

One-on-one care

Every visit is with a TMJ-focused physical therapist for the full session.

No referral needed

In Georgia, you can start physical therapy without a physician referral.

Two clinics

Convenient locations in Roswell and Dunwoody.

Superbills provided

Submit to your insurer for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

Woman pressing her temples with a headache caused by a TMJ disorder
Sound familiar?

How the jaw causes headaches

If your headaches sit at your temples, start with jaw tension, or greet you every morning, your jaw may be part of the problem. Your temporalis muscle, one of the main chewing muscles, fans across your temple. When it's tight or overloaded from clenching, grinding, or stress, it can refer pain across the side of the head. An irritated jaw joint and tense neck muscles add to the load. Headaches linked to the jaw usually look like one of these:

  • TMJ headache. Pain at the temples or sides of the head that changes with jaw movement, chewing, or clenching.
  • Tension-type headache. A band-like pressure that often travels with jaw and neck tension.
  • Neck-related headache. Pain that starts at the base of the skull and spreads forward, often alongside jaw symptoms.

What about migraines? TMJ disorders and migraine often occur together, and jaw tension can make migraines more frequent or harder to manage. Physical therapy doesn't cure migraine, but for some people, treating the jaw and neck reduces how often headaches happen. We coordinate with your physician or neurologist when your care calls for it.

Signs your headaches may be coming from your jaw

  • Headaches at the temples or sides of the head
  • Headaches that get worse with chewing, talking, or clenching
  • Waking up with headaches or a sore jaw
  • Tenderness when you press on your temples or jaw muscles
  • Jaw pain, clicking, or limited opening
  • Neck and shoulder tension that builds with your headaches
Mother and daughter laughing together outdoors, free of headaches after TMJ physical therapy
Our approach

How physical therapy helps TMJ headaches

We treat the jaw, head, and neck muscles that feed your headaches. Your plan is built from your evaluation and typically includes:

  • Hands-on manual therapy for the jaw joint, temples, and chewing muscles, inside and outside the mouth
  • Dry needling for tight, tender jaw, head, and neck muscles, when appropriate
  • Neck and posture work, since neck tension often drives headaches alongside the jaw
  • Habit coaching for daytime clenching, jaw resting position, and sleep posture
  • Jaw exercises to restore relaxed, comfortable movement
  • A home program so you keep improving between visits

Many patients find their headaches come less often and ease faster as jaw and neck tension improve. Learn more about TMJ treatment in Atlanta, or see how the jaw can also cause ear pain and clicking.

Your first visit

What to expect at your first visit

Every visit is one-on-one with your physical therapist for the full session.

  • 1. A full headache history

    Including where it hurts, how often, and what sets it off.

  • 2. A hands-on exam

    Of the jaw, temples, and neck, to find what reproduces your headache.

  • 3. A clear explanation

    Of how your jaw and neck may be contributing, in plain language.

  • 4. Treatment the same day

    Plus a home program to start right away.

Book Your First Visit
TESTIMONIAL

WHAT OUR PATIENTS SAY

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Patient

Meagan

“I have visited several doctors for my TMJ issues, and none have given me the relief or results like Dr. Glackin… After roughly 5 appointments, my jaw feels better than it has in years.”

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Patient

Rhea

"I struggled with chronic TMJ pain for months before finding Dr. Glackin. Within just a couple of sessions, he made significant progress where other medical professionals had not."

TMJ headache treatment in Roswell and Dunwoody

We see patients from across metro Atlanta, including Sandy Springs, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Marietta, and Brookhaven.

When to see a doctor first

Call 911 for a sudden, severe headache (the worst of your life), or a headache with confusion, weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, or vision loss. See a physician promptly if your headache comes with fever and a stiff neck, follows a head injury, is new after age 50, or keeps getting worse. If you're over 50 and have jaw pain while chewing along with scalp tenderness or vision changes, see a physician the same day.

FAQ

TMJ Headaches: Common Questions

Answers to the questions we hear most about headaches and the jaw.

Yes. Tight, overworked chewing muscles, especially the temporalis at the temples, and an irritated jaw joint commonly cause headaches, often felt at the temples or sides of the head.

Common clues are headaches at the temples, headaches that get worse with chewing or clenching, morning headaches, tender jaw or temple muscles, and jaw pain or clicking. A TMJ evaluation can confirm whether your jaw is contributing.

TMJ disorders and migraine often occur together, and jaw tension can make migraines more frequent or harder to manage. Physical therapy doesn't cure migraine, but for some people, treating the jaw and neck reduces how often headaches happen. We coordinate with your physician or neurologist.

Clenching or grinding during sleep is a common cause of morning headaches and jaw soreness. Morning headaches can also have other causes, such as sleep apnea, so talk with your doctor if they continue.

Many patients find their headaches come less often and ease faster as jaw and neck tension improve. After your first evaluation, we'll tell you how much of your headache pattern we expect the jaw and neck to explain.

No. In Georgia, you can start physical therapy without a physician referral.

Book a TMJ Evaluation
Ready when you are

Find out if your jaw is behind your headaches

If your headaches keep coming back, it's worth checking your jaw and neck. Book a one-on-one TMJ evaluation in Roswell or Dunwoody and leave your first visit with answers and a plan.