TMJ/TMD Headache Treatment
In Edmonton, Alberta
Is Your Migraine a TMD Headache?
Many people who suffer from chronic headaches do not know that Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) could be causing them. The temporomandibular joint is the jaw joint, in front of the ears. It's where the lower jaw connects to the skull.
When it is out of alignment, the upper and lower teeth are meeting incorrectly in a "bad bite". The dental name for your bite is occlusion, and a bad bite is malocclusion. The jaw muscles strain at everything they do. Even while at rest, stress is put on them because of the misaligned joint.
As the months or years go by without relief for this jaw muscle strain, inflammation builds up. There are several large nerves running through the face, head, neck and shoulders, down to the hands, and they have many branches. Inflammation puts pressure on these nerves, which gives you pain in whatever area that nerve branch is running to. This is one way that TMD headaches can be caused.
Another cause is a rise in blood pressure. When the jaw muscles are chronically strained, the inflammation blocks some of the blood flow. The body tries to correct the problem by sending more blood to the area, which increases blood pressure. This can cause a very painful feeling of pressure around the head, called a vascular headache.
TMJ Diagnosis
Because they can be so painful, severe, and frequent, TMD headaches are sometimes misdiagnosed as migraines. To determine if you are suffering from migraines or TMD headaches, you can visit a neuromuscular dentist.
Dr. Pavlenko has post-graduate dental training in both cosmetic dentistry and neuromuscular dentistry. Neuromuscular dentistry focuses not just on teeth and gums, but also on the jaw joint and all its related structures (nerves, muscles, blood vessels etc.) He has invested in special technology that enables him to diagnose and treat TMD.
Dr. Pavlenko will work with you to diagnose your headaches. He will measure and record the jaw joint sounds, jaw muscle electrical activity, and jaw movements. Part of the diagnosis is relaxing the jaw muscles with a set of electrodes that deliver mild stimulation, contracting and relaxing the muscles until they relax. This takes only about 45 to 60 minutes, and it may be the first time they have relaxed in many years. Your pain will disappear with the muscle tension.
If Dr. Pavlenko finds that you have TMD, he will design a treatment plan specifically suited for you. Each case of TMD is one-of-a-kind, and each treatment plan is unique too. Once the initial treatment is done, you and Dr. Pavlenko can discuss a long-term plan for maintenance of your corrected bite and pain-free jaw.
You can read more about TMD Symptoms and related topics on our Neuromuscular Dentistry page.
To schedule a consultation with Dr. Pavlenko and learn more about your symptoms, please contact our office in Edmonton, Alberta. We look forward to working with you soon.
