Relief for Jaw Pain: The Benefits of Dry Needling for TMJ Dysfunction

Relief for Jaw Pain: The Benefits of Dry Needling for TMJ Dysfunction

If you've ever experienced jaw pain, clicking, or tightness when chewing or talking, you're not alone. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction affects millions of people and can significantly impact daily life. While there are many ways to address TMJ pain, one emerging and effective technique is dry needling.

As a chiropractor who works closely with patients struggling with tension, pain, and dysfunction in the jaw, I’ve seen dry needling make a noticeable difference. So, let’s dive into what it is and how it can help relieve TMJ symptoms.

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling involves the use of a thin, sterile needle inserted into trigger points (tight bands or knots) in the muscles. The goal is to release muscle tension, improve blood flow, and reduce pain by targeting the neuromuscular system.

How Does TMJ Dysfunction Develop?

TMJ dysfunction can stem from a variety of causes, including:

· Teeth grinding (bruxism)

· Jaw clenching due to stress

· Poor posture, especially in the neck and shoulders

· Trauma to the face or jaw

· Dental work or misalignment

These factors can lead to muscle tightness and inflammation around the jaw joint, contributing to headaches, earaches, facial pain, and difficulty opening or closing the mouth.

Benefits of Dry Needling for TMJ Pain

Here’s how dry needling can help people suffering from TMJ dysfunction:

1. Releases Tight Muscles

Dry needling targets the trigger points in key muscles such as the masseter, temporalis, and lateral pterygoid—muscles that control jaw movement. By releasing tension in these areas, patients often notice a significant reduction in pain and tightness.

2. Reduces Inflammation

By increasing blood flow and promoting tissue healing in the treated area, dry needling can reduce inflammation and irritation around the joint and surrounding musculature.

3. Improves Jaw Mobility

Many TMJ patients have limited mouth opening or pain with chewing. Dry needling helps restore range of motion by addressing the muscular restrictions contributing to stiffness.

4. Decreases Headaches and Facial Pain

Because TMJ dysfunction often leads to referred pain in the temples, forehead, or behind the eyes, releasing the jaw and neck muscles can alleviate chronic headaches and facial tension.

5. Promotes Long-Term Healing

Dry needling doesn’t just mask symptoms—it addresses the root cause of muscle dysfunction. When combined with chiropractic care, exercises, and postural correction, it supports long-term relief and healing.

What to Expect During a Session

Dry needling for TMJ pain is typically quick and well-tolerated. We gently insert needles into the muscles around the jaw, face, or neck. You may feel a twitch response or mild soreness afterward, similar to a post-workout sensation. Most patients feel relief after just a few sessions.

Is Dry Needling Right for You?

If you’re experiencing jaw pain, clenching, or clicking, and haven’t found lasting relief with other treatments, dry needling could be a game-changer. As part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work, and home care strategies, it offers a safe and effective solution for TMJ dysfunction.

Let’s get to the root of your jaw pain—naturally. If you’re ready to explore how dry needling can help with TMJ discomfort, feel free to reach out to schedule an initial appointment.

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Take care,

Dr. Gina

Relief from Sciatic Pain: How Dry Needling Can Help

Relief from Sciatic Pain: How Dry Needling Can Help

Sciatica is one of the most common complaints we see in our office. That deep, shooting pain that radiates from the lower back down through the buttock and leg can interfere with everything from walking to sleeping. While chiropractic adjustments, stretching, and exercise are important tools in managing sciatica, another increasingly popular and effective option is dry needling.

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a technique that uses thin, sterile, solid filiform needles (the same type used in acupuncture) to target myofascial trigger points—tight, sensitive areas in the muscles that can refer pain and limit mobility. 

The goal of dry needling is to reduce muscle tension, improve blood flow, and restore proper function to the affected tissues.

How Does Sciatica Develop?

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, becomes compressed or irritated. Common causes include:

• A herniated disc

• Piriformis syndrome (when the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve)

• Spinal stenosis

• Muscle imbalances or tightness, especially in the glutes, hips, and lower back

In many cases, muscular dysfunction can contribute to sciatic nerve irritation, especially when muscles like the piriformis or gluteus medius are excessively tight or inflamed.

How Dry Needling Helps with Sciatica

Dry needling can be a powerful addition to your sciatica treatment plan by:

1. Releasing Trigger Points
   Tight muscles—especially in the hips and lower back—can refer pain down the leg, mimicking or contributing to sciatica. Dry needling helps "reset" these muscles by causing a twitch response that relaxes the muscle and reduces tension.

2. Reducing Inflammation and Pressure
   By releasing tight muscle fibers and improving circulation, dry needling can reduce the pressure on the sciatic nerve, easing both localized and radiating pain.

3. Restoring Range of Motion
   Loosening tight muscle groups in the hips, glutes, and back helps restore flexibility and mobility, which is crucial for long-term recovery and prevention of future flare-ups.

4. Speeding Up Healing
   The microtrauma caused by the needle stimulates the body’s natural healing response, increasing blood flow and promoting tissue repair.

What to Expect During a Dry Needling Session

A typical dry needling session is quick and minimally uncomfortable. You may feel a quick twitch or cramp in the muscle when the needle hits a trigger point. This is a good sign—it means the muscle is responding. After treatment, it’s common to feel a little sore, similar to how you might feel after a deep tissue massage, but many people notice immediate improvements in pain and mobility.

Is Dry Needling Right for You?

Dry needling is safe and effective for most people. It's often combined with chiropractic care, stretching, and strengthening exercises to create a comprehensive approach to healing sciatic pain.

If you’ve been struggling with sciatica pain and haven’t found lasting relief, dry needling might be worth a shot!

Please let us know if you have any questions!

Take care,

Dr. Gina 

Answering Frequently Asked Questions: Dry Needling

Answering Frequently Asked Questions: Dry Needling

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a therapeutic technique performed by trained healthcare professionals, such as physical therapists and chiropractors. It involves inserting thin, sterile needles into trigger points (knots in the muscle) or areas of tension to reduce pain, improve range of motion, and promote healing. The term "dry" refers to the fact that the needles don’t inject any substances—unlike hypodermic needles used in medicine.

What Does Dry Needling Do?

The primary goal of dry needling is to alleviate pain and restore function. By targeting trigger points, the needles help release tight muscle bands, decrease inflammation, and improve blood flow. This process promotes the body's natural healing mechanisms, leading to improved mobility and reduced discomfort.

Additionally, dry needling can stimulate the nervous system, interrupting pain signals to the brain and encouraging relaxation in overly tight muscles.

What Conditions Can Dry Needling Help With?

Dry needling is versatile and can address a wide range of conditions, including:

• Chronic pain (e.g., back pain, neck pain)

• Muscle tension and tightness

• Sports injuries (e.g., strains, sprains)

• Tendinitis (e.g., tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis)

• Headaches and migraines

• Extremity pain (e.g., hip, knee, shoulder pain)

• Sciatica

• Plantar fasciitis

Does Dry Needling Hurt?

Most people report minimal discomfort during a dry needling session. You might feel a slight prick as the needle is inserted, followed by a twitch or mild ache when the needle reaches the trigger point. These sensations are typically brief and are often followed by a sense of relief or relaxation.

The level of discomfort varies from person to person, but your provider will work to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure.

What Is the Difference Between Dry Needling and Acupuncture?

While both dry needling and acupuncture use thin needles, the two practices differ in their purpose, philosophy, and application:

• Dry Needling: Rooted in modern Western medicine, it focuses on treating specific musculoskeletal issues by targeting trigger points and areas of tension.

• Acupuncture: Based on traditional Chinese medicine, it aims to balance the body’s energy (or “qi”) by stimulating specific points along meridians to promote overall health and well-being.

Although the techniques look similar, their goals and underlying principles are distinct.

Is Dry Needling Safe?

Yes, dry needling is considered safe when performed by a trained and licensed professional. The needles are sterile, single-use, and disposed of after each session to eliminate the risk of infection.

Mild side effects, such as soreness, bruising, or fatigue, are possible but typically resolve within a day or two. Your provider will review your medical history to ensure dry needling is appropriate for you and discuss any potential risks.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions!

Take care,

Dr. Gina