HEAD AND NECK TREATMENTS
Chronic headaches are a living nightmare for at least one out of every 10 North Americans , and they spend over half a billion dollars every year for over-the-counter medications to relieve their pain. They never imagine that their headaches may be caused by TMJ,(temporomandibular joint) and that their pain is the result of a bad bite. The muscles of the temple area and the forehead are muscles that play an important part in the posturing and closing of the jaw. If your bite is not right, it can lead to abnormal tension in these muscles. Basically, your jaw posturing muscles may be overworked in attempting to maintain your present "programmed" position, even when you think they are relaxed. If the bite remains uncorrected , the muscles may remain tense for long periods of time. The contracted muscle does not get a chance to rest and soon suffers from poor circulation - thus a lack of needed oxygen and the accumulation of waste products of metabolism. The result can be pain (headache). This condition can also lead to jaw joint problems.
What are some of the symptoms?
- Jaw pain or soreness, more noticeable in the morning or afternoon
- Jaw pain while chewing, biting, or yawning
- Earache without an infection, sometimes spreading into the face
- A clicking and grinding noise while opening and closing your mouth
- Sensitive teeth without any signs of dental problems
- Difficulty opening and closing your mouth
- A Stiff jaw when eating, talking, or yawning
- Aching on the side of the head and neck pain
- "Locking" of jaw in an open or closed position
Clenching or grinding teeth, a condition called bruxism, may develop from stress or as a part of this disorder. This can tire muscles and create painful spasms, causing even more pain. Because the muscles controlling the jaw are subconsciously "programmed" by the brain, most individuals have difficulty consciously reaching a truly relaxed state and are unaware of cleching or grinding. Many people are unaware that they clench and grind when they are asleep.
The clench test:
With your mouth empty so there is nothing between your teeth to bite on, close your teeth together and squeeze hard. If clenching your teeth together causes any sign of discomfort in any tooth, you have a disharmony in your bite.
How can this condition be treated?
Proper diagnosis is critical to ensure you receive treatment for your particular condition. Dr. Saruna recommends an appropriate treatment plan after conducting a thorough health history, clinical exam, taking appropriate X-rays, and perhaps confirming the condition through other diagnostic tests. New technology now allows objective evaluation of the state of these muscles and various other factors that may be affecting your bite. A neuromuscular dentist like Dr. Saruna can determine a proper resting jaw position that positively affects the muscles of the face, neck, head, teeth, and joints. Based on this and other information obtained from the physical exam, it is possible to rule in or rule out your bite as a possible cause of headache pain with a high degree of confidence.
TMJ treatments are challenging for doctors and patients. The initial therapy is noninvasive, reversible and provides valuable information to diagnose and relieve discomfort and pain. Occlusal splints called Orthosis (e.g. night guards) are fabricated to position the jaw in the most optimal positition allowing muscle relaxation in the head and neck. This zone of comfortable bite is determined by the use of a low frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS), which is also a valuable technology used to relieve pain. In addition, sophisticated computerized instrumentation like Electromyography (EMG) can measure muscle activity and dysfunction. Dr. Saruna also employs use of Computerized Jaw Tracking Instrumentation and Sonography (SONO), a technology used to record jaw joint sounds. This advance in TMJ treatment allows Dr. Saruna to document, diagnose, and treat complex pain conditions, as well as determine ideal jaw posture, placing the jaw into an optimal physiological rest position, relaxing the muscles and reducing spasms and stress.
In most cases, the symptoms can be treated to reduce or eliminate your discomfort.
