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San Diego TMJ Specialist

TMJ Pain and Headaches — Symptoms

Many people are not aware that constant headaches can be caused by a malfunctioning jaw joint, or TMJ (temporomandibular joint). In fact, pain from the TMJ is often mistaken for a common tension headache, and a 2006 study by the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine found that TMJ related headaches were often misdiagnosed as a tension headache. As such, careful tracking of your symptoms can help differentiate the types of pain and provide a roadmap to relief.

SYMPTOMS

What To Look Out For

The pain associated with TMJ disorders can vary, but generally speaking it is often described as an intermittent dull, aching pain that radiates from the jaw joint and surrounding area. To complicate things further, sometimes there is no real pain at all, but other symptoms may still manifest itself as follows:

  • Headaches

  • Neck and shoulder pain

  • Stiffness in the jaw muscle

  • Ear pain (pressure and ringing)

  • Clicking or popping of the jaw

  • Locked Jaw

  • Bruxism / grinding

  • Teeth that don’t touch

  • A bite that feels “off”

  • Dizziness

What causes TMJ/TMD?

There are many things that can trigger TMJ, and sometimes it’s not straightforward or obvious. A few things to look out for:

  • Injury

  • Arthritis

  • Stress

  • Orthodontics

  • Missing teeth

What Are My TMJ/TMD Treatment Options?

The good news is TMJ/TMD is a treatable condition.There are several ways to approach this, and our goal is to not only treat the symptoms, but to find the underlying cause and prevent future pain. Being pain free is a life changing experience, and it makes me extremely happy if I can help a patient find comfort again.

 

  • NSAIDS can reduce the swelling of the muscles in the face, which can help reduce symptoms and make you more comfortable.

  • Your dentist may suggest that you wear a custom mouth guard, which is designed to prevent the teeth from grinding together and causing further damage to your teeth.

  • Moist heat applied to the area can help you by relaxing the muscles in the area around the affected joint.

  • Stress can tighten the muscles of the jaw and contribute to problems relating to TMJ/TMD. Stress reduction techniques can prevent this from becoming a problem.

  • Botox® that is injected directly into the masseter muscle can provide immediate, short-term relief from TMJ / TMD pain.

  • This is my specialty, and I will utilize a number of techniques to align your bite so that it is in the most optimal position, all without surgery.

 

HOW IT WORKS

TMJ / TMD Treatment Process

STEP ONE

We will conduct a thorough interview and examination to gauge the severity and symptoms associated with TMJ / TMD pain.

STEP TWO

Education is important. We provide a thorough explanation of what might be causing the pain and available treatment options.

STEP THREE

A CT scan might be required in order to get a 3D image of the jaw muscles and structure. This is completed onsite.

STEP FOUR

Our goal is to get you out of pain first. If we can accomplish this, then we will have a better understanding of the proper treatment.

GET STARTED

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