Restoring your quality of life by treating TMJ symptoms … from jaw pain to chronic migraine
While it may seem a little curious at first, chronic tension headaches and migraines, frequent earaches and tinnitus, and persistent shoulder and neck pain may be relieved at the dentist’s office. This is because such concerns can be symptomatic of TMJ disorders or dysfunction (TMJDs). The temporomandibular joints, or “jaw joints,” are on either side of the face and support the movements responsible for comfortable chewing, speech, and other basic functions. Brighton Park Dental serves greater southwest Chicago, Illinois, and the surrounding area with the expertise and onsite technologies to ease the often debilitating symptoms of disordered TM joints. This is important because these concerns can easily overwhelm your life and become more frequent without treatment.
What causes TMJDs?
There are numerous potential sources of TMJ dysfunction. You may be at risk of developing problems with the jaw joints due to:
- Degenerative conditions like arthritis
- Previous jaw injuries or trauma
- Bruxism, a condition characterized by chronic teeth grinding and jaw clenching (often during sleep)
- Habits such as frequent and intense chewing on ice, gum, pencils, and other objects
- Misaligned teeth and problems with how the upper and lower teeth come together when you bite down
- Worn crowns and other restorations
Basically, any time that excessive pressure is placed on the joints and the surrounding/connected tissues, symptoms of TMJDs can arise. The affected muscles and other tissues may be “overworked” in a way they are not designed to handle.
Why does TMJD cause such widespread problems that are unrelated to the teeth?
This can be attributed to the mouth’s interconnected nature and how problems with parts of the oral cavity can affect other parts of the body. For example, research suggests that TMJD can cause ear problems (like tinnitus or ringing in the ears) due to the joints’ close proximity to the inner ear, which is responsible for processing sounds. When these joints are irritated or inflamed by the conditions and behaviors mentioned above, the hair cells in the cochlea/inner ear may become damaged.
How can you tell if TMJD may be responsible for my headaches, etc.?
Dentists are often on the front lines of detecting problems with the jaw joints. For instance, during routine exams, we may notice that you have difficulty opening your mouth wide. Your mouth may “lock up.” When you open your mouth, we may also hear sounds, such as a distinctive popping or clicking. Our patients with TMJDs frequently complain about worsening and persistent jaw and facial pain, too. Drs Aroon Pal, Nilay Patel, and Taylor Jemilo are also trained to spot the potential signs of bruxism. These signs include chips and excessive wear and tear to the teeth and fillings, crowns, and other restorations. Since bruxism is associated with TMJ symptoms, it is not unusual for our patients who habitually grind their teeth to also frequently experience debilitating headaches, earaches, and so on.
How can I get relief from these symptoms?
That depends on the cause of your TMJD troubles. For instance, we offer many orthodontic services at Brighton Park Dental. Crooked, crowded teeth and bite problems can cause imbalances that strain the jaw joints and related muscles and tissues. The pressure on the teeth may be uneven, which is problematic and throws off the function of this naturally well-oiled machine (the structures and tissues of your mouth, face, and jaws).
By addressing misalignment with Invisalign® and braces, we maintain a healthy balance that supports proper function by evenly distributing pressure across the teeth. The excessive force that may be placed on the teeth is generally lifted to ease the frequency and severity of your symptoms. If bruxism is to blame, we can make special appliances or nightguards to do the same, reduce the force and pressure on the joints. Even simple measures, like refraining from using your teeth as “tools” or fixing a worn-down crown, can help remove the pressure off the TMJs.
Our team in southwest Chicago, IL, supports real solutions, not short-term relief with a bottle of pain medication. Without appropriate treatment, your concerns can only grow. Contact us without delay at (773) 801-5171 to schedule your appointment and put the migraines, jaw pain, and more behind you.
