TMJ Treatment in Los Gatos, CA
Jaw pain, clicking, or tightness can be a daily buzzkill, especially when it messes with eating, sleeping, or just talking normally.
At On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic, Dr. Adam Kleinberg, DC takes a whole-body, root-cause approach. His focus is on restoring the “physics of the spine” and improving how the nervous system communicates with the body, not just chasing symptoms .
If you’re looking for TMJ treatment in Los Gatos, CA, the first step is a clear evaluation so we can understand what’s driving your discomfort and map out a plan that fits you. Call (408) 354-8044 to schedule your consultation.
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, basically the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. When people say “TMJ,” they’re usually talking about a group of problems that can show up as jaw pain, clicking, stiffness, or trouble opening the mouth fully. Symptoms can be local (right at the jaw joint) or feel like they’re spreading into the face, neck, and shoulders.
At On Purpose Los Gatos Chiropractic, the conversation often comes back to mechanics: when the body is under stress and alignment or motion is off, it can show up in different places. Dr. Kleinberg’s care is built around identifying what’s interfering with normal function and improving motion and balance through chiropractic and supportive strategies .
Signs and Symptoms
TMJ issues can look different from person to person. Some people feel it only when they chew, while others notice it first thing in the morning or during stressful weeks.
- Jaw pain near the ear or cheek that flares with chewing, yawning, or long conversations, then calms down with rest.
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when opening and closing the mouth, especially if it comes with soreness or fatigue.
- Tight jaw muscles that feel “worked” even without eating much, like you’ve been clenching without realizing it.
- Stiffness or reduced jaw opening where opening wide feels restricted, pinchy, or simply not as smooth as it used to be.
- Jaw locking or catching that can make the bite feel off or create a moment of panic when movement feels stuck.
- Headaches that feel tension-based around the temples or sides of the head, often worse after clenching or long screen days.
- Neck and shoulder tension that seems to travel upward or downward, making posture feel harder to maintain comfortably.
- Pain when biting down on tougher foods, or chewing fatigue that shows up faster than it should.
- Morning jaw soreness that suggests nighttime clenching or grinding, often paired with feeling unrefreshed.
Ear-related sensations like pressure or fullness (without an infection), which some people notice during flare-ups.
Common Causes
TMJ symptoms usually have more than one contributor. Often there’s a “trigger,” but the underlying stress has been building for a while.
- Clenching or grinding (often during sleep) can overload the jaw muscles and joint over time, even if you don’t notice it happening.
- Stress and tension patterns may drive jaw tightening, shallow breathing, and muscle guarding that keeps the area irritated.
- Forward-head posture and long hours looking down can increase strain through the neck and upper body, changing how the jaw muscles behave.
- Previous dental work or bite changes can alter how the jaw closes and loads, sometimes leading to strain and uneven wear.
- Jaw trauma or a “big bite” injury (like biting something hard) can irritate the joint and kick off a cycle of guarding.
- Overuse habits like frequent gum chewing or constant snacking can keep the joint from getting the rest it needs.
- General joint stiffness and alignment stress can affect how forces move through the body, especially when posture and movement patterns are off.
What to Expect for TMJ Treatment
If you’re coming in for TMJ treatment in Los Gatos, the first goal is clarity. Dr. Kleinberg’s process starts with a warm, organized first visit: you’ll do some initial paperwork, then meet in a private consultation room to go through your history and symptoms . He evaluates posture, motion, and how your body is balancing overall, and he strongly emphasizes objective findings. The clinic commonly takes full spine digital X-rays to assess alignment and structure .
On the report visit, Dr. Kleinberg walks you through what he found and makes sure you understand the “what,” the “why,” and the “how long,” before you ever commit to a plan . His typical corrective care structure includes progress evaluations every 12 visits, re-checking how things are changing over time . If TMJ symptoms overlap with posture and neck stress, he may also recommend home support such as a Posture Pump designed to help restore cervical curvature .
Long-Term Effects of Ignoring It
TMJ problems are not always “dangerous,” but ignoring ongoing jaw dysfunction can make life smaller over time. When the jaw is irritated, people often start compensating without noticing. They chew on one side, tighten their neck, avoid certain foods, or push through headaches and tension.
- More frequent flare-ups where normal activities like chewing or yawning kick off pain more easily than before.
- Reduced jaw mobility that can make eating and dental visits tougher, and can reinforce the feeling of stiffness.
- Chronic tension patterns that spread into the neck and shoulders, creating a loop of tightness and poor posture.
- More headaches or facial tension that can drain energy and focus, especially if clenching becomes a default stress response.
- Ongoing sensitivity with chewing that nudges you into softer diets and less enjoyment of food over time.
Compensation in other joints as the body adapts around discomfort, sometimes leading to new aches elsewhere.
How Our Chiropractors Help with TMJ
Dr. Kleinberg’s style is not just symptom-chasing. He’s very direct about the bigger picture: the goal is to correct spinal mechanics and improve how the nervous system runs the body, kind of like taking the “foot off the hose” so communication can flow . He also explains that pressure on nerves may or may not show up as pain at first, but it can still affect function .
In practice, care may include:
- Hands-on chiropractic adjustments, often full spine, because he’s focused on the whole system rather than treating one symptom in isolation .
- Upper cervical specific technique when appropriate, along with approaches like seated cervical work or drop technique based on what your exam and imaging suggest .
- Low-force options when needed, including an activator tool that’s available in the clinic .
- Lifestyle and posture coaching, including work habits, strengthening, and stretching so you are not reloading the same patterns every day .
And yes, safety matters. Dr. Kleinberg notes he has been in practice for 25 years and has delivered hundreds of thousands of adjustments, with careful decision-making around age and bone health .
Case Study
A memorable patient story Dr. Kleinberg shares involves a patient who had been dealing with daily migraines for years. After her first adjustment, she reported the migraines stopped, and she went a full year of care without a single migraine . That’s not presented as a guarantee, but as a real-world example of how a nervous-system and spine-focused approach can show up in someone’s day-to-day life.
If your TMJ symptoms overlap with headaches, neck tension, or chronic tightness, this is the kind of pattern Dr. Kleinberg looks for: what’s happening structurally, how the system is adapting, and what changes are realistic with consistent care and good home habits.
