physical therapy to correct misaligned jaw bones

From Tim Hendrickson :

>I don't know if I have an answer for you or not, but perhaps this
>information will help.
>
>My wife, who is also a singer - was diagnosed with TMJ a little over a year
>ago. She has almost the exact same problem - she used to be able to place
>three fingers in the space of her open mouth - and then it gradually became
>less.
>
>Singing has been extremely difficult for her. She has been to several
>different specialists and all but one said the same thing - surgery. A
>process in which they actually go in and break the jaw, re-set it, and then
>wire it shut. (Hence - realigning the jaw bones)
>
>Since this was not an option we were very enthused about, we sought the help
>of a different specialist. As it turns out, this new specialist offered a
>completely different approach - physical therapy!
>
>I scoffed at the idea at first - thinking that some type of oral surgery
>would ultimately be necessary. This doctor said the problem wasn't with the
>"jaw" but with my wife's spine. She began stretching my wife's back, arms,
>legs and had her sleeping with a special orthopedic pillow - ONLY on her
>BACK not on her SIDE. This method did in fact begin to correct her
>misaligned jaw bones - and her teeth began to meet properly.
>
>Within a month we noticed a marked improvement. The "click" that she would
>feel when opening her mouth wide to sing, or to eat was gone - and she has
>gained much of her unrestricted movement back.
>
>I don't know if this helps you or your student - but I strongly advise
>AGAINST any type of oral surgery if this physical therapy process will work
>in her case. I would seek the advice of a muscular/bone specialist BEFORE
>going to an oral surgeon.
>
>Hope this helps. I will be glad to give you the name of the physician my
>wife was seeing here in Michigan, if it will be of help.