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Q. I get headaches. Could that be from my teeth?
A. A headache is a very common symptom that can result from a variety of medical problems. Dental causes of head, neck or facial pain could include cavities, abscessed teeth, gum infection, cysts, tumors of the jaw bones, swollen glands, broken or cracked teeth and TMJ dysfunction syndrome (TMJ ds).
Q. What is TMJ dysfunction syndrome?
A. TMJ dysfunction is any pain that results from a conflict between the biting surfaces of the teeth and the jaw joints. It is only one specific problem that can occur with the jaw joint. Unless it can be proven that the pain is caused by a conflict between the teeth and jaw joint, it is not TMJ dysfunction.
Q. I never get headaches. What makes you think I have TMJ?
A. Headaches are only one manifestation of TMJ ds. Damage to the teeth and jaw bone is even more common than headaches.
Q. What is TMJ? Is it stress or tooth grinding or what?
A. TMJ dysfunction is the pain that results from (and can be proven to be caused by) a conflict between the teeth and jaw joints. The pain is actually muscle pain or cramping from the jaw muscles. These jaw muscles wrap around the entire head.
Q.
How do I find out if I have a bite problem that is causing head, neck or facial pain?
A.
You need to find a dentist with specific training in diagnosing and treating TMJ dysfunction.
Q. My doctor said that I have tension (or sinus or migraine) headaches. Is it true?
A. TMJ symptoms are similar to those types of headaches and are often confused. Since most medical and dental training does not include TMJ ds many doctors have not been properly trained to make a TMJ ds diagnosis.
Q. I wasn't having this problem last week or last month. Why did my bite suddenly go off?
A. Your bite has probably been off for quite some time. What has changed recently is your ability to tolerate it. This level of toleration could be reduced by either stress or fatigue.
Q. I get jaw or neck-aches. Is that TMJ?
A.
It could be TMJ dysfunction, but it might not be. The only way to be sure is to go to a dentist who has specific training in treating TMJ ds and get tested. TMJ ds is easy to misdiagnose, so you need to be sure the dentist has the pre-requisite training.
Q. I was in an accident and got whiplash pain that won't go away. What can I do?
A. Often, a whiplash injury triggers TMJ dysfunction. Anyone who has had a whiplash injury should be screened for TMJ dysfunction if the pain from the injury does not clear up quickly.
Q. I have TMJ but was told it's stress. Is that true?
A. Stress does not cause TMJ dysfunction. A conflict between the biting surfaces of the teeth and jaw joint is the cause. Stress can take a patient who has been tolerating this discomfort and reduce their tolerance to a point where the pre-existing dental condition begins to cause pain.
Q. I get earaches but nothing the doctor does helps. Could that be due to my teeth?
A. Earaches have nothing to do with your teeth or TMJ dysfunction. However, if you put your finger in your ear, you can see how close it is to your jaw joint and teeth. If you open and close your mouth while your finger is in your ear, you can actually feel your jaw joint move. As a result, what may feel like an earache may in fact be a jaw joint problem.
Q. My dentist said my teeth are fine but I still get head, neck or facial pain. What do I do next?
A. If the dentist has ruled out tooth problems, you need to be checked for TMJ dysfunction by a dentist who is specifically trained in the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ dysfunction.
Q. I had braces, so how could my bite cause headaches?
A. Braces are great but they have limitations. First, your teeth may be straight but there still could be a conflict between your teeth and jaw joints even after braces. Second, things may have shifted since the braces were taken off.
Q. I don't grind my teeth so how could I have TMJ?
A. Most people who do grind their teeth do not realize it. Look at your teeth very carefully to see if there is any wear that could be due to tooth grinding, even if you don't think you are doing it.
Q. If I get a headache, I just take a pain pill. Why do I need to do anything else?
A. Taking a pill to mask the pain of a headache does nothing to solve the problem. Symptoms can continue to worsen even if it doesn't hurt. Many patients who wind up with severe jaw problems that may require major surgery started out with a TMJ problem caused by the bite that was not properly treated.
Q. If my bite is the problem, do I need braces?
A. If your bite is the problem, braces could be the solution but may not be needed. The objective is to eliminate the conflict between the teeth and the jaw joints. Other methods that may help include a bite splint or bite equilibration.
Q. Would a bite guard (bite splint) help me?
A. A bite guard, if it is properly made, will definitely take away pain that is due to TMJ dysfunction, as long as it eliminates the conflict between the teeth and the jaw joint. However, it only works when you are wearing it. As soon as you take the bite guard out, your bite goes back to where it was before.
Q. I got a bite guard and it didn't help. Does that mean that I didn't have a bite problem?
A. If a bite guard didn't help, either it was not adjusted well enough to eliminate the conflict between the teeth and jaw joint or, if it was, your bite is not the problem.
Q. Can't I just use a mouth guard that they sell in a sports store?
A. The bite guard they sell in a sports store is designed to act as a cushion to protect your teeth in case of a blow to the face. The TMJ bite guard is not designed to act as a cushion but as a substitute for a properly fitting bite.
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