Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
It has been estimated that migraine headaches affect more than 38 million Americans and more than a billion individuals around the world. This number may be even higher when you consider individuals who never receive diagnosis or treatment. Migraines also represent one of the greatest diagnostic mysteries in all of medical science. There has yet to be a consensus on what causes migraines. Perhaps it is because of this mystery that employers may not grasp how debilitating migraines can be. Today on the blog, Okemos’ award-winning dentist Dr. Christine Tenaglia reveals what could be the secret cause of your migraine headaches.
The challenge of diagnosing migraines
Migraines often can be misdiagnosed. In fact, many individuals who are diagnosed and treated for migraines are dealing with headaches that occur from something completely different. What is this malady? It’s called temporomandibular joint disorder—otherwise known as TMJ disorder or TMD. TMJ disorder refers to any condition where the temporomandibular joint, a small joint on either side of the head that connects the jaw to the skull, enters a state of dysfunction.
How does TMJ disorder cause headaches?
When the temporomandibular joint begins to malfunction, this has radiating effects on the surrounding bones, joints, musculature and nerves. One nerve that is located in close proximity to the temporomandibular joint is the trigeminal nerve. This is an important neural pathway that carries the most sensory information to the brain–even more than the spinal cord.
If you have TMJ disorder, this nerve can become aggravated, irritated or compressed. When this occurs, the trigeminal nerve sends signals of pain to the brain that trigger a headache, especially first thing in the morning. Now, when you consider that headaches of this type and migraines are both different varieties of a tension headache, it becomes easier to understand how even an experienced general physician can misidentify headaches caused by TMJ disorder with migraines.
How to tell if your headaches are caused by TMJ disorder
If you have been living with painful headaches for an extended period of time without finding lasting relief, then a case of TMJ disorder could be the root of your problem. If you also are experiencing other symptoms of TMJ disorder, then it is even more likely your headaches are the result of an issue with your temporomandibular joint.
Some of the common symptoms of TMJ disorder include:
- Jaw pain;
- Difficulty opening and closing the jaws;
- Hearing a clicking sound as your jaws function;
- Dental pain; or
- A ringing in the ears.
These are just some of the symptoms of TMJ disorder, as the specific issues caused by this malady can vary widely from person to person.
Get relief for your headaches from your dentist
Yes, it’s true. If TMJ disorder is the culprit behind your tension headaches, a neuromuscular dentist is the best qualified medical professional to provide both diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Christine Tenaglia has studied the principles and techniques of neuromuscular dentistry, which only are taught on an advanced post-graduate level following the completion of standard dental school. If chronic headaches are affecting you or a loved one and you have struggled to find relief, schedule a consultation to be evaluated for TMJ disorder at Tenaglia Smiles. Just call (517) 347-6733 or contact us online.