That Chronic Headache Could Be TMJ: We Have Solutions

Anyone who has ever had a migraine episode knows the dreaded signs. For many, it starts as a sharp, ice-pick pain in one temple, followed by agony that radiates out from your eye socket and spreads down your jaw into the side of your neck. Even your teeth start to hurt, and you’ll retreat to a dark room with no sound or noise if you're lucky, and keep popping OTC pain relievers.

What if you could find the cause of your migraine pain? At Lancaster Dental Care Associates in Lancaster, California, Dr. Kamran Saidara and our team offer TMJ/TMD treatment, which could be the solution to your frequent headaches and migraine episodes.

TMJ/TMD basics

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge on each side of your face that connects your jaw to your skull. The joint is supported by multiple facial muscles. When these muscles spasm because of misalignment of your jaw causing strain, your jaw can lock up in an open or closed position, hurt at the point of the TMJ, or even cause a full-blown migraine episode.

These issues are collectively referred to as different types of TMD — temporomandibular joint disorder. Both men and women can suffer from TMD, but it’s worth noticing that TMD is most commonly diagnosed in girls and women, ages 15-30. 

Women are also much more likely to suffer from migraine disorder than men, with 1 in 5 women reporting migraine episodes compared to only 1 in 10 men. Further, 10% of Americans report specific facial pain or headaches that seem to center on or involve their TMJ. 

Treating TMJ-related migraine disorders

If your migraine episodes can be determined to be caused by problems with your TMJ, the good news is that your dentist may be able to help. Dr. Saidara can perform a comprehensive examination of your mouth, jaw, and bite to evaluate the likelihood that your chronic migrainous headaches are caused or contributed to by TMD.

If you do have a misaligned bite, there are several treatment options. Dr. Saidara may recommend adjusting your bite using traditional braces or Invisalign, creating a customized night guard to keep you from clenching or grinding your teeth at night and stressing your TMJ, or oral surgery to correct dental issues that could be tipping orofacial pain over into migraine territory.

To learn more about TMJ/TMD solutions, call our office at 661-215-8130 or request an appointment online today.