TMJ & Jaw Pain · Tampa, FL

TMJ & Jaw Pain Treatment in Tampa, FL

Jaw pain, clicking, clenching, face pain, even ear pressure and headaches — TMJ problems spread far beyond the joint. The muscles that power the jaw are some of the strongest in the body, and they hold trigger points that keep the whole pattern going.

Find the generator first

What can generate TMJ pain

Masseter and pterygoid trigger points The jaw's powerhouse muscles — their knots refer pain into the face, teeth, and temples.
The joint and its capsule The TMJ itself can be irritated, clicking, or restricted.
The neck Upper-neck muscles and the SCM feed directly into jaw mechanics and pain.
Clenching and grinding patterns Often stress-driven — the nervous system keeps the jaw switched on.
Nerve sensitivity Facial nerve pathways can amplify and spread the pain.

These need different treatment — which is why your first visit is a hands-on Pain Mapping Visit: palpation, movement testing, and targeted examination designed to reproduce your familiar pain and find the tissue that matches your actual complaint.


Then treat the target

The tool depends on what we find.

Treatment happens the same day when appropriate — and then we recheck. Can you move better? Did the familiar pain change? Your response refines the diagnosis and builds the plan.


From our Google reviews

“I came in with TMJ and back pain. And felt a relief after the first session. I wish I have found this place earlier. Highly recommend Dr. Hanson for any problems with pain, you won’t regret you’ve tried.”

Sara Piché · ★★★★★ Google review

Questions, answered

TMJ & Jaw Pain, explained

My dentist gave me a night guard. Why do I still hurt?

A night guard protects your teeth from grinding — it does not treat the muscles doing the grinding. If the masseter and pterygoid muscles are loaded with trigger points, they stay painful with or without the guard. Treating the muscle is a different job.

Can TMJ problems cause headaches and ear symptoms?

Yes. Jaw muscle trigger points refer into the temples, face, and around the ear — pressure, fullness, and pain that ENT exams often cannot explain. It is one of the most commonly missed connections in chronic headache.

Is dry needling safe for the jaw?

Yes, in experienced hands. The jaw muscles respond particularly well to precise needling, and Dr. Hanson has performed tens of thousands of procedures. Most patients notice the jaw releasing within the first treatments.

Do you work alongside my dentist or TMJ specialist?

Yes. Dental splints, orthodontic work, and muscle-level treatment address different parts of the problem and combine well. If your joint itself needs specialist care, you will be told directly.

How do I start?

Book a Pain Mapping Visit ($150). We map whether the muscles, joint, neck, or nerves are driving your pattern, treat the target the same day, and build your plan.


Meet your doctor

Dr. Josh Hanson, DACM

I’m the doctor people come to when pain has become something they thought they had to live with forever.

My approach is simple: map the painful tissues with a thorough hands-on exam, identify the exact muscle, tendon, joint, fascia, or nerve creating the pain signal, and treat that target directly using the best tool for the job. Many patients tell me I’m the first doctor who actually took the time to put his hands on the painful areas instead of just looking at images.

Over a decade in practice and more than 35,000 procedures later, I’ve treated patients other clinics gave up on.

Read Dr. Hanson's story

  • 10+ years clinical experience
  • Florida's most experienced dry needling practitioner
  • Performed 35,000+ procedures
  • Consulted with MLB, NFL & MLS organizations
  • Consults with practitioners from all over the country
  • 175,000+ followers · 12M+ video views worldwide

Stop guessing. Map the pain.

One visit: exam, targeted treatment, recheck, and a clear next step. Book online or call or text.

Visit the clinic

Contact

Hanson Complete Wellness
1202 W. Linebaugh Ave
Tampa, FL 33612

813-534-0311
office@hansoncomplete.com

Mon–Thu · 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Fri–Sun · Closed

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