Most people think of dentistry as just teeth and gums — but did you know your posture can affect your bite, jaw alignment, and even your breathing?
At Pain Free Dentist Sydney, we practise a holistic approach known as Postural Dentistry, where we look beyond the mouth to assess how the entire body — particularly the head, neck, and spine — influences your dental health and jaw function.
🔄 What is Postural Dentistry?
Postural Dentistry is an integrative approach that links the health of your teeth and jaw to your overall posture and body alignment. Rather than focusing only on isolated dental issues, we assess how your bite, jaw joints (TMJ), muscles, spine, and head position all work together.
This approach is especially important for patients with:
Jaw pain or TMJ dysfunction
Headaches or neck pain
Crooked bite or worn-down teeth
Forward head posture
Breathing and airway issues
History of orthodontic relapse or trauma
🦷 How Poor Posture Affects the Jaw
When your head is positioned too far forward — a common result of tech use and poor ergonomics — it places strain on your jaw joints (TMJ), facial muscles, and even your bite. Over time, this can lead to:
Clicking or locking jaw
Facial pain or fatigue
Uneven tooth wear
Headaches, neck tension, or shoulder tightness
Difficulty breathing or sleeping
🧠 A Whole-Body Approach to Dental Care
At Pain Free Dentist Sydney, our postural dental assessments go beyond traditional check-ups. We consider:
Head and neck alignment
Jaw position and movement
Bite relationship and symmetry
Muscle tone and facial balance
Breathing patterns
Past orthodontic or trauma history
We often collaborate with physiotherapists, osteopaths, or airway specialists when needed to ensure a multi-disciplinary, long-term solution.
🧩 Treatments That Support Postural Balance
Depending on your needs, we may recommend:
✅ TMJ Splint Therapy
Custom-made splints help guide your jaw into a more neutral, balanced position and reduce tension in the jaw and neck.
✅ Composite Build-ups or Bite Rehabilitation
Worn or uneven teeth can throw off your bite. We rebuild tooth height and symmetry to support better jaw posture.
✅ Myofunctional or Airway-Focused Care
In some cases, tongue position, breathing habits, or previous tongue/lip ties may be contributing to postural imbalance.
✅ Collaboration with Bodywork Practitioners
We may refer you to trusted physiotherapists or osteopaths to address underlying cervical or pelvic misalignment affecting your jaw.
💬 What Patients Say
Many of our patients report that treating their jaw and bite relieved their neck and shoulder tension, helped reduce headaches, and even improved their posture and confidence.
📍 Book a Postural Dentistry Consultation
If you're experiencing jaw pain, bite issues, or tension in your head and neck, we’d love to assess how postural dentistry could help you. Your body works as a system — and your smile is part of it.
📞 Call us on (02) 9558 8988
📍 570 New Canterbury Rd, Hurlstone Park NSW 2193
💻 Book Online — Just mention “postural assessment” in your notes