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Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ/TMD)
at Waterford

The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, connects your jaw to your skull in front of your ear. The TMJ hinges, allowing you to move your mouth when you talk, yawn, or chew. TMJ disorder is pain in and around your jaw. It may also include popping/clicking, ringing in the ears, headaches, limited mouth opening or a tendency for the jaw to “lock”. Physical therapy can be used to treat those symptoms by restoring proper jaw movement, and lessening daily stress on the jaw.

Physical Therapists Can Help with TMJ Dysfunction Caused By:

  • Bad posture habits
  • Chronic jaw clenching & poor
  • sleep hygiene
  • Problems with teeth alignment
  • Fracture
  • Surgery
  • Trismus (lockjaw)
  • Displacement of the disc
  • Arthritis

How a Physical Therapist Can Help TMJ dysfunction ultimately results in functional limitations due to pain orimpaired movement, regardless of its original cause. Physical Therapists specialize in the restoration of movement patterns, including those of the facial region.

They may use the following techniques to reduce symptoms:

  • Reduce acute pain and inflammation
  • using treatments like electrical
  • stimulation or ultrasound
  • Decrease compressive forces in the
  • joint with manual therapy techniques
  • Improve motor patterns associated with talking and chewing via specific exercises
  • Promote awareness of postural and lifestyle factors

Waterford Services

Advanced Physical Therapy
6650 Highland Road #119
Waterford, MI 48327

Get Directions

Phone: (248)618-3050

Fax: (248)618-3284

Monday
7:00 AM-7:00 PM
Tuesday
6:00 AM-7:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM-7:00 PM
Thursday
6:00 AM-7:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM-5:00 PM
Saturday
CLOSED
Sunday
CLOSED

New Patient Info

Welcome to the Phoenix family! You’re one step closer to feeling like you again. You can expect superior care at each step of your rehabilitation journey, starting with scheduling your first appointment. After scheduling your first appointment, we encourage you to download and fill out your patient forms and insurance information.

Schedule Now (248)618-3050

What to Expect

Meet The Team

  • Jill Heberling, LPTA

    Clinic Director, Physical Therapist Assistant

  • Jennifer Welsman, PT, DPT

    Physical Therapist

  • Sarah Levitt, MPT, PRPC

    Physical Therapist

A large part of what sets Phoenix apart is our team. We are proud to employ highly trained professionals who are not only skilled at what they do, but are passionate about providing you with individualized care. Our Phoenix team members are what makes achieving quality clinical outcomes possible through expertise and a personal approach.

Welcome to Waterford

Advanced Physical Therapy Center, now part of the Phoenix Physical Therapy family, is a physical therapy, occupational therapy, and sports medicine company dedicated to providing cutting edge therapy techniques and personalized, one-on-one care programs in southeast Michigan. Founded in 1991 by Linda Gibbs, PT and Kim Turner, PT, CHT, Advanced PT has distinguished itself as a results-focused, hometown physical therapy provider with community-based clinics in Grand Blanc, Flint, Clio, Hartland, Goodrich, Clarkston, Davison, and Waterford. Our goal is to develop customized rehabilitation programs that get you back to work and play fast. We have state-of-the-art, hands-on techniques and tailor-made exercise programs delivered by highly trained compassionate therapists. Advanced PT joined the Phoenix Physical Therapy family in December 2020...

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The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
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