Alterations in neck and head posture can affect jaw and masticatory muscle function, as well as the neck’s range of motion and cervical muscle activity in patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). This review aimed to investigate the association between abnormalities in the cervical spine and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunctions. This systematic review was conducted following the guidelines set by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A thorough search of the literature was performed using the databases ResearchGate, PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The search strategy used the terms “temporomandibular joint,” “Cervical spine,” and “pain.” Initially, 273 articles were considered during the title and abstract screening process. After further evaluation, 52 studies were identified, and the full texts of these studies were reviewed. Finally, 6 studies met all inclusion criteria for this review. The studies included 417 patients from TMD-related clinical trials, with 302 patients participating in the intervention groups. Key findings included reduced side flexion, increased pain intensity associated with TMD, a greater number of active trigger points in masticatory and cervical muscles, and a reduction in the C0-C1 distance, all of which significantly affect cervical abnormalities related to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
