Are Your Migraine Headaches a Symptom of Jaw Disorder?

    CHICAGO, IL, September 30, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- It is estimated that millions of Americans suffer from Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (also known as TMD or TMJ), and one of the classic symptoms of this disorder is headache. Many people who suffer with TMD describe their headaches as migraine headaches, but the headaches associated with TMD are not migraines at all. They are tension headaches.

The joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull is called the temporomandibular joint or the TMJ. The TMJ provides us a smooth range of motion to eat, speak, laugh, etc. When this joint is not in proper alignment, the condition known as TMD/TMJ exists. Some of the other very common symptoms of TMD/TMJ are:

• Grinding of the teeth (bruxism)
• Clenching of the teeth
• Jaw pain
• Facial pain
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Shoulder/neck pain
• Tingling in the hands and fingers

Neuromuscular Dentistry and Migraine Headaches

Neuromuscular dentistry is the branch of dentistry that deals only with the alignment of the jaw and its effect on the head, face and body. Highly trained neuromuscular dentists are able to diagnose a misalignment of your jaw and then devise a treatment plan best suited for your individual needs. Many patients come to neuromuscular dentists after years of treatment by their general doctor. Many people will take pain medications for years and still have the cause of the headaches and other symptoms: a misaligned jaw. If you have been suffering with any or all of the above symptoms and would like to have your problem actually treated and not just the symptoms treated, you should visit a neuromuscular dentist right away.

There are several ways to diagnose TMD; neuromuscular dentists will use the following diagnostic tools:

• Sonography to measure the sounds of the jaw joints
• Electromyography
• TENS unit (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
• Computerized jaw tracking to measure the jaw's function; this tool allows the dentist to see what position is ideal for your jaw

If you live in the Chicago, Illinois area and feel you may suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder, or if you suffer from migraine headaches and think jaw misalignment may be the problem, please visit the website of Colonial Dental Group today.

Website: http://www.colonialdentalgroup.com

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