Complete Jaw Care

From paediatric jaw development to complex adult TMJ disorders.

Complete Jaw Care addresses the root cause, as well as your symptoms.

Jaw pain and jaw development interventions require individualised treatment and often collaborative care. Dr. Michelle Clarke works with other healthcare providers to ensure you get the care you need.

Dr. Michelle Clarke has over 20 years experience with a unique approach to jaw care, and is one of the few chiropractors in Australia with advanced TMJ, airway and oral ties training, as well as being a qualified orofacial myofunctional therapist.

Dr. Clarke combines her knowledge of spinal function, clinical neurology, TMJ, oral ties, airways and orofacial myofunctional therapy to tailor TMJ and orofacial treatment.

The TMJ Chiropractic and Orofacial Myofunctional therapy connection

Why see a TMJ Chiropractor for jaw pain or Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy?

• Jaw pain can be a result of cervical spinal (neck) dysfunction and the associated muscles.

• The TMJ and upper neck are intimately linked in both function and neurology.

• Orofacial myofunctional disorders (low tongue posture, tongue thrust swallow) can demand extra work from the jaw.

• Airway resistance presenting as snoring, sleep apnoea, bruxism and/or mouth breathing often have associates postural compensations.

• Oral ties can create jaw and neck compensations and muscle tension.

Dr. Michelle Clarke brings the knowledge and experience of spinal function, posture, TMJ and orofacial myofunctional therapy to provide COMplete Jaw Care to all appointments.

Why Complete Jaw Care?

Dr. Michelle Clarke has over 20 years experience - with advanced TMJ training and clinical experience, chiropractic paediatric training, and is a qualified orofacial myofunctional therapist.

Initial consultation - the time needed to investigate your complaint, review relevant scans and assess your TMJ, posture, spinal function, craniofacial development, orofacial function, tonsils, airway, oral resting posture, occlusion and other indicated areas (neurological assessment, otoscopic exam).

Dedicated report of findings - time to discuss findings and treatment.

Rehabilitation exercises - all TMJ and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy patients receive rehabilitation exercises that include, where indicated, TMJ, orofacial myofunctional and postural exercises.

Customised treatment - Dr. Clarke spends time outside your appointment, carefully evaluating your examination findings to develop individualised treatment.

Your progress is monitored - treatment is routinely re-assessed and modified as required.

You receive a written report - for your understanding and other practitioners involved in your care.

Dr. Clarke has an established trusted network - referral to supporting healthcare practitioners where required (eg. ENT specialists, TMJ and airway dentists, myofunctional dentists, orthodontists).

What symptoms do we treat?

TMJ/TMD Symptoms

• Jaw Pain

• Jaw Clicking

• Tooth grinding and clenching (Bruxism)

• Facial pain

• Ear Pain

• Headaches

• Unexplained tooth pain

• Mouth breathing