A surreal illustration representing the connection between jaw alignment, the trigeminal nerve, and brain activity, symbolizing the potential for neurological relief through biomechanical dentistry.

Untangling TMJ, Nerves, and Neurological Symptoms: A Biomechanical Dental Approach

Lena Voss in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Could your jaw be the missing piece? Explore how dental treatments are offering new hope for neurological and neuropsychiatric relief."

For years, the medical community has investigated the intricate relationship between the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the trigeminal nerve, and a wide range of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Emerging research suggests that dysfunction in the TMJ can trigger inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, potentially leading to or exacerbating conditions like Tourette's syndrome, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, gait disorders, and even Parkinson's disease. This opens a new frontier for treatment, focusing on biomechanical dental interventions to alleviate these debilitating conditions.

The trigeminal nerve, the largest of the cranial nerves, plays a crucial role in sensory innervation to the face, jaw, and teeth. It has three major branches: the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves. The auriculotemporal (AT) nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, specifically provides sensory innervation to the TMJ capsule. Dysfunction in the TMJ can compress or irritate the AT nerve, leading to a cascade of aberrant signals that travel to the brainstem and beyond.

This article dives deep into the groundbreaking work of researchers and clinicians who are pioneering biomechanical dental treatments to address TMJ-related neurological symptoms. We'll explore case studies, treatment protocols, and the underlying mechanisms that explain how realigning the jaw can unlock relief for a variety of seemingly unrelated conditions. Discover how this innovative approach is offering new hope to those who have struggled with traditional medical interventions.

How Does TMJ Dysfunction Trigger Neurological Symptoms?

A surreal illustration representing the connection between jaw alignment, the trigeminal nerve, and brain activity, symbolizing the potential for neurological relief through biomechanical dentistry.

The connection lies in the intricate neuroanatomy of the trigeminal nerve. When the TMJ is misaligned or inflamed, it can compress the auriculotemporal nerve, causing a constant barrage of abnormal sensory input to the brainstem. This can lead to neuroinflammation, affecting various brain regions responsible for motor control, sensory processing, and cognitive function.

This constant barrage of abnormal sensory input can disrupt the delicate balance of neurotransmitters and neural pathways, leading to a variety of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Here's a breakdown of some potential effects:

Aberrant Reflexes: Disrupted signals in the brainstem can lead to aberrant reflexive behaviors, such as tics in Tourette's syndrome or involuntary head movements in cervical dystonia.
Sensory Amplification: Neuroinflammation can amplify sensory signals, leading to heightened sensitivity to pain, light, sound, or touch. This can manifest as migraines, photophobia, or allodynia.
Motor Dysfunction: Disrupted signals can interfere with motor control, causing tremors, rigidity, gait disturbances, or blepharospasm.
Cognitive Impairment: Neuroinflammation can affect cognitive function, leading to brain fog, difficulty concentrating, or memory problems.

Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted treatments that address the root cause of the problem, rather than just managing the symptoms.

A New Hope for Neurological Relief

Biomechanical dental treatments offer a promising new avenue for addressing neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms related to TMJ dysfunction. By realigning the jaw and decompressing the trigeminal nerve, these interventions can help to restore normal neural function and alleviate debilitating symptoms. While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and efficacy of these treatments, the existing evidence suggests that they hold significant potential for improving the lives of those who have struggled with traditional medical approaches.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/978-3-319-76367-5_6, Alternate LINK

Title: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, Trigeminal Nerve Inflammation, And Biomechanical Dental Treatments For The Suppression Of Neurological And Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

Journal: Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders

Publisher: Springer International Publishing

Authors: Anthony B. Sims, G. Gary Demerjian

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

How does temporomandibular joint dysfunction lead to neurological symptoms?

Dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint can trigger neurological symptoms through the trigeminal nerve. When the temporomandibular joint is misaligned or inflamed, it can compress the auriculotemporal nerve, leading to a constant barrage of abnormal sensory input to the brainstem. This, in turn, can cause neuroinflammation, affecting various brain regions responsible for motor control, sensory processing, and cognitive function. This disruption can manifest as aberrant reflexes, sensory amplification, motor dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. More specifically, disrupted signals in the brainstem can lead to aberrant reflexive behaviors, such as tics in Tourette's syndrome or involuntary head movements in cervical dystonia.

What is the goal of biomechanical dental treatments in addressing neurological symptoms related to temporomandibular joint dysfunction?

Biomechanical dental treatments aim to address neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms related to temporomandibular joint dysfunction by realigning the jaw and decompressing the trigeminal nerve. This approach seeks to restore normal neural function and alleviate debilitating symptoms. While the full extent of their mechanisms and efficacy requires further research, current evidence suggests that biomechanical dental interventions hold promise for improving the lives of individuals who have found limited relief through traditional medical approaches. Such treatments directly target the source of aberrant neurological input stemming from temporomandibular joint issues.

What is the role of the trigeminal nerve, and particularly the auriculotemporal nerve, in the connection between temporomandibular joint dysfunction and neurological symptoms?

The trigeminal nerve, the largest of the cranial nerves, has three major branches: the ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular nerves. The auriculotemporal nerve, a branch of the mandibular nerve, specifically provides sensory innervation to the temporomandibular joint capsule. Its role in transmitting sensory information from the face, jaw, and teeth means that any dysfunction or irritation can lead to a cascade of aberrant signals affecting the brainstem and various brain regions. This intricate involvement underscores its significance in the connection between temporomandibular joint health and neurological symptoms.

In what ways can a misaligned temporomandibular joint manifest in aberrant reflexes, sensory amplification, motor dysfunction and cognitive impairment?

When the temporomandibular joint is misaligned, aberrant reflexes can occur because of disrupted signals in the brainstem, leading to conditions like tics in Tourette's syndrome or involuntary head movements in cervical dystonia. Sensory amplification can also occur because neuroinflammation can amplify sensory signals, leading to heightened sensitivity to pain, light, sound, or touch which can manifest as migraines, photophobia, or allodynia. Motor dysfunction can also be caused by tremors, rigidity, gait disturbances, or blepharospasm. Finally, cognitive Impairment because neuroinflammation can affect cognitive function, leading to brain fog, difficulty concentrating, or memory problems.

What are some of the specific neurological conditions that have been linked to temporomandibular joint dysfunction and trigeminal nerve inflammation?

Tourette's syndrome, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, gait disorders, and even Parkinson's disease are examples of conditions that research suggests can be linked to dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint. Dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint can trigger inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, potentially leading to or exacerbating conditions like these. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and efficacy of biomechanical dental treatments for these conditions.