Willow Dental Toronto Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

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Monday, April 25, 2011

Getting to the Root of TMJ Headaches

The chronic headaches associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ or TMD) are so severe—occasionally even debilitating—that they are often confused with migraines.

The region where your temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull is about the size of a large coin, but it is packed with muscles, nerves, tendons and bone. Among that complex network is the trigeminal nerve, which is involved in biting, chewing and swallowing, and also registers sensation in your face.

If your jaw is even slightly misaligned, it can impact every sensitive component in the connective area and send pain shooting through your face, neck, shoulders, arms and back. A misaligned jaw can create excessive pressure on the nerves, muscles and joints, and cause irritation, inflammation and swelling.

If untreated, the symptoms of TMJ may worsen and can contribute to progressive dental problems such as premature wear on your teeth, additional stress on the jaw, and gum disease.

Fortunately, TMJ is treatable. An examination with an experienced Toronto neuromuscular dentist at Willow Dental can diagnose whether TMJ is the source of your pain and provide the information necessary to create a customized treatment plan to correct your specific condition and put an end to your pain.

If you live in the Toronto area and would like to learn more about the relationship between TMJ and headaches, please contact us at Willow Dental.

posted by Megan P at 1:09 PM