Do you suffer from headaches every day? When you wake up, do you have ear, neck, or facial pain? Do you frequently wake up in the morning with a sore jaw or migraine headache? If your answer is yes to any or all of these questions, you may have TMJ headaches, which we treat in our Plano, TX, office.
Physicians often overlook or misdiagnose TMJ headaches. Many people suffer unknowingly from temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). They don’t think to mention these symptoms to their dentist because they are not typically associated with dental health problems.
The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) connects the upper and lower jaw. This joint is responsible for opening and closing the mouth. TMJ disorder is the term used to define a wide variety of potential issues affecting the jaw joint, muscles in the face, neck, and surrounding nerves. An injury or strain on the TMJ can lead to discomfort and pain.
Dr. Jacob Grapevine has extensive postgraduate training and experience diagnosing and treating TMJ with therapy treatments. He can create a personalized treatment plan for patients who suffer from TMJ headaches. Dr. Grapevine wants to eliminate your pain and prevent other problems, such as tooth wear, jaw damage, and headaches.
TMJ and Headaches
Many physicians and patients don’t link dental problems or TMJ disorders with headaches. Headaches caused by dental problems often result from malocclusion or an unbalanced bite. They may also result from teeth clenching or grinding, which often occurs during sleep and causes headaches or migraines in the morning.
Signs and symptoms of TMD include:
- Headaches
- Shoulder, neck, facial pain
- Clicking or popping when opening or closing the jaw
- Locked jaw or limited mobility in the jaw joint
- Teeth clenching, teeth grinding, often accompanied by tooth wear
- Chronic earaches
Improper bite alignment and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems can cause pain as well as deterioration of teeth and supporting structures. It can lead to tooth grinding, which frequently occurs during sleep and puts pressure on the TMJ. As a result, you can feel pain that radiates from the joints to the ear and head.
You may not realize you have a TMJ disorder unless you wake up with morning headaches. As you constantly grind your teeth at night, it radiates pain up to your head to create headaches. If you notice morning headaches, it may be time to consider TMJ treatment.
Bite Evaluation
Our dentist in Plano, TX, Dr. Grapevine, takes the time with each patient to thoroughly examine the entire occlusal or bite system. As a Dawson-trained dentist, Dr. Grapevine completed training for TMJ and bite correction issues. He will help you get to the root of your chronic headaches.
During a consultation with Dr. Grapevine, he will look for unusual wear on the teeth and gums that may indicate that the TMJ is out of balance. Dr. Grapevine uses the latest dental technology to evaluate the bite and devise a customized treatment plan.
Treat TMJ Headaches in Plano, TX
There is no one treatment for TMJ headaches. We often recommend a combination of treatments, including:
Mouthguard
Often, a mouthguard is prescribed as part of the plan. The custom-fit mouthguard is worn at night to prevent teeth grinding and allow the TMJ to relax.
Teeth grinding is a common symptom of TMD and can lead to other dental health issues such as gum disease and tooth damage. A mouthguard can often bring welcome relief to a patient suffering from headaches and other symptoms.
Physical Therapy
A physical therapist is highly valuable if you have a TMJ disorder. Physical therapists can use massage and exercises to help relax your jaw, neck, shoulders, and back. During PT, TMJ patients can learn how to continue these exercises at home.
Some exercises, like relaxing the jaw, are highly valuable if you notice yourself clenching your teeth.
Medication
Some medications may offer a quick fix for headaches. Prescribed muscle relaxants before bed and pain medication can help if you have a TMJ flare-up. However, if headaches are a recurring problem, you may need more than pain medication to manage your headaches.
Posture
If you lean forward to read, type, or text, it puts pressure on your neck, head, and jaw. This position is called a forward head position and is common, especially when working on laptops or looking at phones. When sitting or standing, you want your head aligned with your spine. Setting laptops, phones, or other devices at eye level can help improve your posture.
Your sleep posture can also put pressure on your TMJ. When sleeping, sleep on your back. Sleeping on your side or on your stomach can put more pressure on the head and neck.
Bite Equilibration
Crooked, misaligned, and overcrowded teeth can contribute to a bad bite. If you have a bad bite, straightening your teeth can help. Our office provides Invisalign to straighten crooked teeth.
However, if you grind your teeth, we will recommend treatment for this problem before Invisalign. You can damage your aligners if you clench and grind your teeth.
Another option if you have broken or worn teeth is dental crowns. Crowns are caps that fully cover single teeth. We use tooth-colored crowns that create an even bite and match the shade of other natural teeth.
Continual teeth grinding can damage your teeth. In addition, if you already have an uneven bite, crowns can create a balanced bite.
Surgery
In the most advanced cases, we recommend surgery to fix the joints or muscles in the TMJ. Surgery can also address inflammation in the TMJ or discs. We will refer you to a surgeon if needed to restore balance to your bite and comfort to your jaw.
Stop Headaches
If you think you may be suffering from headaches related to TMJ disorder, schedule an appointment today at our Plano dentist’s office. Call Dr. Grapevine at Signature Dentistry to treat headaches in Plano, TX, at (972) 449-5759.
Let Dr. Grapevine know if you have questions about your symptoms or treatment for TMJ headaches. He will be happy to help.