Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing Michigan
Do you suffer from chronic headaches that cause you intense pain? Unfortunately, for some individuals, even the most powerful headache remedies available merely reduce the symptoms of these headaches without affecting how often they occur. If you find yourself relying on pain medication regularly – or even daily – just to function, you should schedule an appointment with… your dentist? Yes. Your dentist. Read on as we explore and explain the dental connection that could be causing your chronic headaches.
Most chronic headaches classify as tension headaches
A tension headache provokes feelings of mild to moderate pain. The pain may feel more pronounced in the temples, scalp or the back of the neck. Symptoms of a tension headache include feeling as if your head or scalp is painful to even the slightest touch; or experiencing a dull or throbbing pain, especially if it emanates from behind the eyes. Tension headaches can be episodic, lasting as little as 30 minutes or as long as w week; or chronic, happening 15 or more times over a three-month span.
How can a dental problem trigger headaches?
Temporomandibular joint disorder (also known as TMJ disorder or TMD) occurs due to improper function in one or both of the jaw joints. This malfunction may occur due to a misalignment of the jaw, a jaw injury, teeth grinding, arthritis in the temporomandibular joint or stress. Once a case of TMJ disorder develops, the problems affecting the joint quickly radiate to affect the surrounding joints, musculature and nerves. One of the nerves located closest to the temporomandibular joint is the trigeminal nerve, which transmits more input to the brain than any other neural pathway—including the spinal cord. TMJ disorder places pressure on the trigeminal nerve, triggering impulses of pain that get sent to the brain and initiate a headache. Given that the trigeminal nerve also is associated with other types of tension headaches, including migraines, it stands to reason that patients with headaches caused by TMJ disorder often find that they are misdiagnosed.
Headaches caused by TMJ will not go away on their own
Only by addressing the root cause of TMJ will these headaches, and their potentially debilitating pain, be alleviated. Sadly, many individuals who suffer from chronic pain have their agony questioned by others who doubt whether both the pain and the cause of the pain exist. This invalidation unfortunately is a common social phenomenon—even from our friends, family and coworkers. This invalidation can make the person start to question the validity of their own discomfort, also creating feelings of isolation, worthlessness and hopelessness.
Why live with the pain, and the secondary ramifications, any longer? Seek out an appointment with Dr. Tenaglia. Her training in neuromuscular dentistry gives her the background to identify and treat cases of TMJ disorder. This treatment may include using ULF-TENS technology to emit low-frequency pulses of electricity to relax compressed muscles. She also can prescribe a custom-made orthotic mouthpiece, which repositions your jaws into their preferred alignment and alleviates whatever is impacting the temporomandibular joint. With it, this also resolves any secondary issues that have developed from TMJ disorder, including any chronic headaches you may be experiencing.
Treatment for TMJ headaches in Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing, Michigan
If you have been living with chronic headaches and yet to find relief, you owe it to yourself to be screened for TMJ disorder. To schedule an appointment at Tenaglia Smiles, just call (517) 347-6733 or contact us online.