SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, CA
Waking up daily with a headache can have you reaching for over-the-counter pain medication as soon as your feet hit the floor. When you suffer from debilitating headaches, it makes getting through the day seem impossible. Most people are unsure what’s causing their pain. It could be dehydration, stress, allergies, hunger, or lack of sleep. But reaching for OTC meds to soothe headaches is a common remedy. Fortunately, our Scotts Valley dentists that treat TMJ disorder at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry explain that medication-free treatment is not only possible but highly effective in most patients. Therefore, we share the connection between your headaches and the temporomandibular joint on the blog today. Plus, explore how we treat chronic headaches related to TMJ disorder.
How do your headaches and TMJ disorder connect?
The temporomandibular joint connects your lower jawbone to the skull. A central body nerve, the trigeminal nerve, expands from the spinal cord and offshoots into your face, jaw, and forehead. This prominent nerve is responsible for facial and oral movements like chewing, speaking, swallowing, and more. When this multifaceted cranial nerve becomes aggravated, it can send painful feelings to your teeth, jaw, neck, sinuses, neck, or head. In severe cases, our TMJ dentists in Los Gatos noticed patients might also experience back pain or painful sensations that radiate through the spine with long-term, untreated TMJ disorder.
TMJ typically begins with jaw joint inflammation, which restricts blood flow, and aggravates the trigeminal nerve. The painful sensations could be the leading cause of headaches, especially if medications provide temporary pain relief. Unfortunately, the pain won’t cease until you treat the underlying condition. Therefore, seek treatment from a Santa Cruz TMJ specialists to reduce pain and relinquish the need for medication.
TMJ Disorder Diagnosis
Each patient visiting our Scotts Valley dental office for TMJ disorder can expect a thorough examination and consultation. Our skilled dentists will use specialized equipment to track and measure your jaw sounds and movement during the exam. The device then uses the information to calculate the degree of your jaw misalignment, which helps us create a more customized treatment plan.
After receiving a diagnosis, most patients begin treatment with a TENS unit, a medical electrical machine that stimulates muscles using ultra-low frequencies and relaxes the muscles. Our Scotts Valley dentists that treat TMJ patients assure patients that electrical stimulation in this setting should not be painful. Patients report that it feels like a tingling sensation, followed by immediate relief. The TENS unit has adjustable settings to fit your unique needs.
The next step in TMJ disorder treatment is stabilizing your bite. The temporomandibular joint determines how your jaw opens and closes when biting, chewing, or speaking. At Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry, we can create a custom oral appliance that maintains your jaw’s proper resting position. Wearing the device as directed by our Santa Cruz dentists that treat TMJ disorder can give you jaw pain relief and help better manage headaches.
Rebuilding your bite may be necessary for long-term TMJ management, especially if you have missing, crooked, or uneven teeth that contributed to your condition. Dental correction by our experienced TMJ dentists in Scotts Valley can restore your bite and alleviate pain so that you can be medication-free and reclaim your life.
TMJ Dentists in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley, California
Busy schedules have no room for headaches, as they interfere with thinking, focusing, and patience. Even though over-the-counter pain relievers may help some days, it only scratches the pain’s surface for most TMJ sufferers. If you suffer from frequent, debilitating headaches, now may be the best time to consult with our Los Gatos TMJ dentists at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry. Feel free to call (831) 438-4411 or contact us online to schedule your initial consultation today so that you can get back to a pain-free life.
