Headaches and Dentistry
Calgary, Alberta
When you suffer from chronic headaches, probably the last thing you consider is that it may be related to dental or oral health. This thinking is backwards though; probably the first thing you should consider is that headaches and dentistry are closely tied.
The reason is the temporomandibular joint, the busiest and most powerful joint in your body. It is situated in a nexus of muscles, nerves, and blood vessels that feed your head. Problems in this joint may be causing those headaches you cannot seem to shake, even if you do not suffer from any other obvious symptoms. Dr. Chee is a dentist that can help identify and treat your headaches.
Dental Related Headaches
There are many different classifications of headaches, migraines, cluster headaches, and of course tension headaches. It is nearly impossible to tell exactly what causes the majority of headaches, but many people suffer headaches from stress or inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. This condition is called temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.
The jaw joint also has a very wide range of motion, with the ability to open, slide, and move side to side. The TMJ is the only joint that has two sides that work in tandem. When they fail to work in tandem, it can cause inflammation of one or both sides due to the stresses placed on the joint. There are many things that cause TMD, including:
- Missing teeth
- Trauma
- Excessive or difficult chewing habits
- Crooked teeth
Neuromuscular Dentistry
Some dentists practice a field of dentistry called neuromuscular dentistry which aims to relieve TMD symptoms by finding a more relaxed position for the jaw. Their primary goal is to determine what is causing the misalignment of the TMJ that is causing the associated pain, then treating the underlying cause or causes.
After a diagnosis of TMD, Dr. Chee will take careful measurements of your jaw using jaw scanning equipment, to establish your ideal jaw alignment. Then he will create a treatment plan to restore the TMJ to that alignment.
Dr. Chee will typically progresses from conservative treatments to treatments that are more invasive. Some treatment options include:
- Changes in the foods you eat
- Stretching
- Physical therapy
- Orthodontia
- Tooth replacement
- Surgery
- Appliance therapy
Once the TMD is treated, the secondary symptom of headache should disappear.
To find out more about TMD, and what headaches and dentistry have in common, please contact Dr. Gordon Chee at Aesthetic Dental Studio. You can schedule an initial consultation today.
