Orofacial Pain image

The field of Orofacial Pain is concerned with the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of orofacial pain disorders. Such disorders may have pain and associated symptoms arising from a discrete cause, such as postoperative pain or pain associated with a malignancy, or may be syndromes in which pain constitutes the primary problem, such as TMJ disorder pain, neuropathic pains, or headaches.  

Neuromuscular Dentistry & TMJ Treatment

Do you snore loudly and feel excessively fatigued throughout the day? If so, it’s possible you suffer from a sleep condition known as obstructive sleep apnea. 

  1. Sleep Apnea and Snoring
  2. Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  3. Sleep Apnea Risk Factors
  4. Treating Sleep Apnea
  5. Snore Device
Schedule Your Appointment

TMJ Causes

 Due to the complexity of the TMJ, it is often difficult to determine the exact cause. The condition can develop from an injury to the jaw, TMJ, head muscles, or neck muscles. Often, these injuries are caused by a jarring blow or whiplash.

Other possible causes of TMD include:

  • Misaligned teeth
  • Pressure on the TMJ caused by grinding or clenching your teeth
  • Dislocation of the disk separating the ball and socket of the TMJ
  • Damage to the cartilage of the TMJ caused by arthritis
  • Stress may result in a tightening of the facial and jaw muscles
  • Allergies and breathing problems
  • Missing teeth
Schedule Your Appointment
Orofacial Pain image
Vector illustration of treatment of tmj disorder

Do You Need Relief from TMJ Symptoms?

 TMD can be extremely painful. While this pain may be short-lived, it is possible for it to become chronic, lasting for many years and causing degenerative problems if left untreated. Common TMJ symptoms include:

  • Jaw pain
  • Ear pain
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Tinnitus
  • Facial pain
  • Locking of the jaw
  • Headaches
  • Uneven bite
  • Clicking, popping, or grating sound in the jaw joint when opening your mouth or chewing
  • Limited mobility in the mouth
  • Uncomfortable bite 
  • Facial swelling
  • Toothaches – a dull ache that affects several teeth in a concentrated area
  • Neck Pain 
  • Dizziness
  • Numbness and tingling

Worn teeth are not normal, but can be a common symptom of TMJ. As a result of TMD, you may suffer from cracked, loose, missing, chipped, or broken teeth.

Schedule Your Appointment
Orofacial Pain image

Are Your Headaches Linked to TMJ?

Not every type of headache is related to the Temporomandibular joints, and some headaches have no identifiable cause, which can make searching for headache and migraine treatment difficult. Most headaches fall into one of three categories:

  • Primary headaches include tension, migraine, and cluster headaches
  • Secondary headaches are a sign of other conditions like meningitis, encephalitis, brain tumors, or brain injuries
  • Cranial neuralgias, facial pain, and other headaches

Of these types, the headaches that may be caused by a TMJ disorder are:

  • Tension headache
  • Sinus headache
  • Migraine-like headache
  • Cranial neuralgias and facial pain
Schedule Your Appointment
Orofacial Pain image

Primary headaches are the most common headaches, affecting more than 90 percent of the population. TMJ can often cause, trigger or worsen primary headaches. Tension headaches, the most common form of primary headaches, are often related to TMJ disorders.

These headaches are caused because the temporomandibular joint is out of alignment, which leads to tension in your muscles and can cause headaches.

Schedule Your Appointment