TMD & JAW PAIN PROGRAM — STITTSVILLE

Jaw pain, clicking, or headaches? It could be TMD — and physiotherapy can help.

Our TMD & Jaw Pain Program provides thorough assessment and conservative, evidence-informed treatment for jaw pain, jaw dysfunction, and jaw-related headaches — right here in Stittsville.

Book a TMD assessment → Call (613) 836-3699

Do any of these sound familiar?

  • ▸ Jaw pain, aching, or tenderness
  • ▸ Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds in the jaw
  • ▸ Jaw locking — or feeling like it might lock
  • ▸ Headaches, especially around the temples
  • ▸ Ear fullness, pressure, or ringing with no ear problem found
  • ▸ Pain or fatigue when chewing, yawning, or talking
  • ▸ Neck pain or stiffness alongside jaw symptoms
  • ▸ Clenching or grinding your teeth, day or night

If you checked even one, a TMD assessment can give you answers.

Book an assessment

Could your headache actually be coming from your jaw?

Many headaches are driven — or worsened — by jaw dysfunction. Clues your headache may be jaw-related: it's felt mainly around the temples, it changes when you chew, clench, or yawn, and the same headache can be reproduced when the jaw muscles are gently pressed during assessment.

We screen every headache presentation carefully, and when the pattern points elsewhere (such as migraine), we say so and refer appropriately.

What is TMD, in plain language

TMD (temporomandibular disorder) covers problems with the jaw joint and the chewing muscles: pain, clicking or locking, limited opening, and related headaches.

Two reassuring facts most patients never hear: the jaw joint's cartilage is fibrocartilage — it can remodel and regenerate, so jaw "arthritis" is not the same story as knee arthritis. And a clicking jaw, on its own, is usually harmless — what matters is function: can you open, chew, and live without pain? That's our target. Function over the click.

What your first visit looks like

1. Your story
When it started, what aggravates it, clenching/grinding habits, stress and sleep (both genuinely affect jaw pain).
2. Movement check
We measure how far your jaw opens and moves side to side against healthy benchmarks.
3. Hands-on assessment
Gentle palpation of the jaw, face, and neck muscles and the jaw joint itself, plus simple tests (like a bite test) that help tell joint problems from muscle problems.
4. Your plan
A clear explanation of what's driving your symptoms and a treatment plan built around it. You'll leave the first visit understanding your jaw better than you ever have.

How treatment works

Manual therapy
Gentle joint mobilization and soft-tissue release for the jaw, face, and neck muscles (including careful intraoral techniques when appropriate — always explained first, and only ever with your consent).
Motor-control exercise
Retraining how the jaw moves: posture work, controlled opening, and coordination drills you can do at home in minutes a day.
Education & behaviour strategies
The highest-value part of care: healthy resting jaw posture (lips together, teeth slightly apart, tongue resting up), breaking daytime clenching habits, and sleep and stress strategies that calm the system driving the pain.
Headache & neck care
Because the jaw never works alone, we assess and treat contributing neck and headache drivers as part of the program.
Modalities where helpful
Such as laser therapy to support tissue recovery.

We work with your dentist

Jaw patients often see their dentist first — and that's a good thing. We collaborate with dentists across Stittsville and Kanata: we assess and treat the musculoskeletal side of TMD, keep your dentist in the loop, and refer back whenever dental care is the right next step.

Dentists: you can refer patients directly by phone at (613) 836-3699. A one-page referral guide is available on request.

Your care team

Trained across the clinic — Our physiotherapy team is trained in evidence-informed TMD assessment and treatment, so you get consistent, high-quality jaw care no matter which physio you see. The program is led by Yash Ahuja, Physiotherapist, who has completed advanced clinical training in TMJ and headache disorders (Level Up Institute, CTMD designation) and is mentoring the team in the program's protocols — built to give jaw-pain patients in our community the focused care that's been hard to find locally.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a doctor's referral?

No. You can book directly.

My jaw clicks — does it need treatment?

Not necessarily. Clicking without pain or limited opening is usually harmless. We assess function first and only treat what needs treating.

Will I need a splint or dental work?

Maybe — and if so, we'll coordinate with your dentist. Many TMD cases improve significantly with conservative physiotherapy care alone.

How many visits will I need?

It depends on what's driving your symptoms. You'll get a clear plan (and honest expectations) at your first visit.

Is treatment painful?

Treatment is gentle and always guided by your tolerance. Any intraoral technique is fully explained beforehand and only done with your consent — and there are effective options that don't involve it.

Do you treat headaches?

Yes — headaches related to jaw dysfunction. When your headache pattern suggests something else (like migraine), we'll tell you plainly and point you to the right care.

Ready to stop guessing about your jaw pain?

Book a TMD assessment and get clear answers — plus a plan built for your jaw, not a generic protocol.

Book a TMD assessment → Call (613) 836-3699

Serving Stittsville, Kanata South, and surrounding Ottawa communities. Most appointments available within 24 hours.