Headache, Migraines, Jaw Pain, Popping/Clicking
Description
Temporomandibular disorder (TMJ, TMJD or TMD) affects the temporomandibular joint, an area that includes the hinge jaw joint (the bridge for the lower jaw or mandible) and the temporal bone ( eminence ) of the skull located in front of each ear, the muscles surrounding the condyles and the jaw itself.
This area of the face contributes to chewing, bite (occlusion) and jaw movement. Therefore, TMJ disorder compromises jaw flexibility and may cause pain at rest or during common movements such as talking, chewing and yawning.
The pain and discomfort caused by TMJ disorder may be severe, can be either intermittent or constant and may last for many years.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF TMD/TMJ?
- Pain around your ears
2. Pain in your jaw, jaw joint, tooth/teeth, face, neck, or shoulders
3. Popping or clicking of your jaw joints / jaw (jaw instability)
4. Inability to open your mouth, with or without pain, in the normal range of motion
5. Bruxism – Grinding your teeth
6. Ringing or fullness in your ears
7. Migraine, headaches or any other type of headaches
8. Sinus pressure and lack of draining
There are many causes:
1. Trauma/whiplash
2. Braces/dental work
3. Stress/teeth grinding
4. Dental malocclusions
5. Missing or bad teeth
6. Muscle abuse/overuse
7. Inflammation
8. Disease
Other factors that could also affect TMJ/TMD is our genetic form/make-up.
THE COMPONENTS OF TMD
1) IMBALANCE of the BITE/OCCLUSION.
2) IMBALANCE among the MUSCLES and JOINTS of the JAW, CONDYLES, HEAD, and NECK.
3) STRESS IMBALANCE and HOME CARE.
IF YOUR DENTIST OR DOCTOR IS NOT TREATING ALL THREE COMPONENTS, YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS GO DOWN DRAMATICALLY.
1) IMBALANCE of the BITE/OCCLUSION
Successful diagnosis and treatment of your TMJ condition require state-of-the-art technology
(Advanced TMJ 3D Imaging and Analysis) and proper therapy with a medical device call MAGO. Do not leave your bite to chance! For years, dentists have had to use a large amount of guesswork in diagnosing dental occlusion. Imprecise tools such as articulation paper, waxes, and pressure indicator paste were all we had to assess and balance the forces of the bite with the muscles and joints of the head and neck. Most of these methods are not sensitive enough to detect simultaneous contact, and none measure both biting time and force … critical components in diagnosing TMD.
2) IMBALANCE among the MUSCLES and JOINTS of the JAW, HEAD, and NECK
We use a medical device ( orthotic ) call a MAGO to BALANCE and relax the MUSCLES and JOINTS of the JAW, CONDYLES, HEAD, and NECK. The MAGO provides the combination of therapy and proper diagnosis of the cause of the problem(s).
3) STRESS IMBALANCE and HOME CARE
Proper diet / nutrition and exercise can affect our whole health. We recommend involving professional health care providers such as physical therapist, chiropractor or acupuncturist as needed to assist in the health process.
TMD AND MIGRAINE OR TENSION HEADACHES
The most common TMD complaint is migraine headache accompanied by jaw, head, neck, and/or shoulder pain. Although the majority of migraines and TMJ headaches have various causes, but they all have one thing in common … dysfunction of the temporal mandibular joint of the jaw.
Most migraine headaches have two common attributes:
Tenderness in the muscles of the jaw, head, neck, and face. These hot spots in the muscles – called trigger points – create pain “wind-up loops” that cause migraine headaches and referral pain patterns.
Teeth clenching or grinding (bruxism). Migraine headaches usually start in the forehead, temples, or back of the head. Those who clench or grind their teeth may also develop migraine-like headaches.
The good news is that these migraine headaches and other headaches along with the associated pain can be treated effectively. There’s no need to continue to live with migraine headache pain when you can get relief from these symptoms naturally without drugs!
TENSION HEADACHES AND MIGRAINE HEADACHES ARE AMONG THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TMJ DYSFUNCTION
As a highly trained dental practitioner in the treatment of TMD, Dr. Nguyen has spent years learning and practicing the most advanced technology and research to bring relief to TMD patients. The heart of our practice is to help you find freedom from TMJ and related symptoms – especially TMJ tension headaches and migraine headaches.
Dr. Nguyen’s firm commitment to his patients, is to provide relief from migraine headaches, grinding your teeth, popping and clicking of your jaw, fullness and ringing in ears, as well as any jaw, face, head, or neck pain related to TMJ/TMD.
Dr. Nguyen’s approach is a comprehensive program for treating TMJ problems such as headaches, jaw pain, and bruxism. We start with a complete in-office assessment, including evaluation of head/neck and their relationship to healthy muscle and joint positioning with dental examination, digital panoramic and bitewing/periapical films and photos. Once an assessment is completed, we include ConeBeamCT ( 3D-Imaging) to obtain specific imaging for proper diagnosis.