What causes Temporomandibular Joint Disorder?

There are usually a variety of contributing factors that lead someone to experience TMD. Some include clenching/grinding, excessive gum chewing/biting nails, neck injuries, stress and physical trauma.

Our Approach

At Thrive Health Group, we treat you as a whole person — not just a jaw or a joint. TMJ pain is rarely caused by one structure alone. Alongside physical factors like jaw stiffness, things such as sleep quality, stress, breathing patterns and nutrient deficiencies can significantly influence your symptoms. That’s why we use a holistic approach and work closely with dentists and other health professionals to ensure you receive comprehensive care.

During your physiotherapy assessment, we’ll ask targeted questions to understand what’s contributing to your pain. We then assess the movement of your jaw, neck and shoulders, and gently examine the muscles and joints inside and outside your mouth. Once we’ve gathered all the information, we’ll explain our findings, provide a diagnosis, and outline treatment options — typically a combination of exercises, hands‑on therapy and education.

Expertise in TMJ (Jaw Pain) Management

Ann has been treating TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) conditions since 2011 and has completed extensive postgraduate training. This includes in‑person education with Professor Mariano Rocabado in Spain, coursework through the University of St Augustine (Florida), multiple Melbourne-based courses, and a Masters in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. She is also a qualified Myofunctional Therapist, allowing her to assess and manage additional orofacial dysfunctions that contribute to TMD.

Ann is a guest member of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Orofacial Pain and has attended several of their conferences. She has managed a wide range of presentations, including post‑trauma and post‑operative cases, chronic jaw pain, ear pain, and persistent clenching or grinding. She currently consults on TMJ cases that present to the Royal Children’ Hospital Chronic Pain service.

She has also delivered TMJ training to physiotherapists across major health services, including Alfred Health, Western Health and IPC Health.

If you want it even punchier or more patient‑friendly, I can reshape it.

Check out our TMJ blog for updated info on TMJ Management