Neuromuscular Dentistry & Options for Chronic Jaw, Neck, and Headache Pain
Do you often experience nagging aches and tension in your jaw muscles or neck that won’t go away? What about frequent headaches making it difficult to concentrate? If so, you’re not alone – many people unknowingly suffer from temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) and associated pain due to underlying dental issues. The good news is identifying and properly treating the source of facial and head discomfort is within reach through the specialized services of neuromuscular dentistry.
This branch of dentistry aims to resolve pain stemming from abnormalities in bite alignment, jaw tracking during movement, or tooth wear/stress. At Discovery Dental & Implants, our doctors are specifically trained to fully examine oral anatomy and root causes preventing long-term relief from seemingly unrelated jaw, neck, and headache issues. With thorough evaluations and non-surgical therapies, we are dedicated to giving patients their pain-free lives back.
Causes of Chronic Facial & Head Pain
Some of the most common triggers that neuromuscular dentists pinpoint include:
- Teeth grinding or clenching at night (bruxism)
- Past orthodontic work altering proper jaw function
- Missing teeth/dentures distorting bite alignment
- Chronic gum chewing or vigorous food bolus manipulation
- Traumatic injuries like whiplash injure the TMJ ligaments
- Diseases like arthritis gradually degenerating joint surfaces
- Stress and anxiety worsening parafunctional habits
Regardless of the ultimate source, chronic pain signaling from these areas results from inflammatory irritation. Short-term pain relief yields little lasting benefit without addressing the root cause of dysfunction.
Your Neuromuscular Evaluation
To thoroughly diagnose the painful issue, Discovery Dental & Implants’ specialized doctors will closely examine bite registration records, take digital jaw joint scans, and observe movements while palpating facial and neck muscles. They check for any areas of tenderness, weakness, or limitation. This holistic approach looks beyond teeth to unveil why headaches or jaw strains persist.
Non-Surgical Treatment Options
Once diagnostic testing reveals the specific mechanism, our neuromuscular specialists will collaborate on a treatment strategy personalized to safely and naturally relieve symptoms without costly, invasive surgeries if possible. Popular treatments include:
- Custom-fitted occlusal splints or night guards to minimize grinding
- Bite equilibration using dental filings to balance the TMJ load
- Physiotherapy strengthening and stretching key jaw muscles
- Botulinum toxin injections relaxing overactive muscles
- Spray-and-stretch techniques on trigger points
- Postural/ergonomic counseling and home exercises
With adherence to personalized home therapies, relief usually comes within just a few weeks of properly addressing the mechanical, structural, or muscle imbalance issues at hand.
Discover Freedom from Pain
If you suffer from frequent jaw, neck, or head discomfort disrupting daily life, there could be a correctable dental factor involved. The neuromuscular dentistry experts at Discovery Dental & Implants provide easy access to thorough evaluations and solutions beyond basic painkillers or orthodontics alone.
We are committed to pinpointing causes for truly alleviating your symptoms so you too can feel like yourself again. Request an appointment online or by phone today – start rediscovering pain-free days ahead.
Quick Links
Credit:
Image by Racool_studio on Freepik
Image by Drazen Zigic on Freepik
Image by prostooleh on Freepik
DISCOVERY DENTAL © 2024 All Rights Reserved.