Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common symptoms of a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problem. Refer to Neuromuscular dentistry.

Tension headaches are the most common type of headache. It is often described as a feeling of wearing a hat two sizes too small, with pain in a ring around the head, or similar to a migraine headache. The TMJ headache is a tension type of headache.

There are a few TMJ related causes for tension headaches. Constant contraction of muscle fibres within a muscle creates tension, pressure or a tight feeling in the face and head. Constant tight muscle fibres prevent or restrict blood flow to that area. The body sends more blood to these areas and this can result in an increase in general blood pressure to the muscles and head, sometimes referred to as vascular headaches. Clenching and grinding the teeth, which are TMJ symptoms, produce pain from the muscles in the head.

Unfortunately, these headaches can be so frequent or severe that they are often misdiagnosed and treated as migraine headaches and not jaw misalignment.

The pain from muscle headaches can be blocked with medications, or nerves cut with brain surgery or muscles somewhat relaxed with muscle and psychological therapy, but the cause of the problem and damage from the bad bite (malocclusion), will persist. Side effects with medications, complications from brain surgery, and limited results with muscle or psychological therapy can only mask and do not correct the underlying source of the problem.

Neuromuscular dentistry ensures the muscles are happy because they do not have to work hard positioning the teeth to a strained bite.

Neuromuscular Dentistry treats these conditions by placing the teeth and jaw in its optimal position, relieving the symptoms, as listed above, associated with TMJ.