Jaw Support Therapy™
Supporting the only joint that depends on the teeth.
Most joints in the body are supported by bones, ligaments, and surrounding muscles.
The jaw joint is different.
Every time you chew, swallow, speak, yawn, or sleep, it depends on your teeth for support.
When that support is reduced, the jaw may function in a more closed position, increasing the load placed on the joint and surrounding muscles.
Why the Jaw Is Different
Many structures throughout the head and neck respond well to Head & Neck Decompression™.
The jaw joint is unique.
It is a smooth, highly mobile joint that moves thousands of times every day.
Because it is constantly moving, it cannot be continuously supported with our hands. Instead, it relies on the teeth for support.
That is where Jaw Support Therapy™ becomes important.
Understanding the Jaw Joint
Between the lower jaw and the skull sits a small cushioning disc that normally moves with the jaw, allowing smooth, comfortable movement.
When the joint becomes overloaded, that relationship may change.
Some people experience clicking. Others develop limited opening or episodes of locking.
Every joint is different, and every patient is different.
How Jaw Support Therapy™ Helps
Our appliance is designed to provide stable support for the jaw while reducing unnecessary compressive forces on the joint.
It is not intended to force your jaw into one predetermined position.
Instead, it provides support while allowing the jaw to function as naturally as possible.
Why We Use a Lower Appliance
Our appliance fits on the lower teeth.
This leaves the roof of the mouth uncovered, allowing the tongue to rest naturally against the palate. It can also be worn during the day, when appropriate.
Unlike many appliances, it does not cover the front surfaces of the lower front teeth.
This allows the jaw to move into a naturally comfortable forward position if your muscles guide it there, rather than being blocked by the upper front teeth.
Our Goal
Our primary goal is comfortable function without pain.
The purpose of treatment is not necessarily to eliminate every click, joint noise, or episode of locking.
Those symptoms often relate to the cushioning disc within the joint. While some patients notice improvement as the joint becomes better supported, these changes cannot be predicted or guaranteed.
Success is measured by how comfortably your jaw functions—not by whether every sound disappears.
Because a comfortable, functional jaw is far more important than a silent one.
Jaw Support Therapy™ supports the one joint that cannot be continuously supported by our hands.