I take medicine for migraines every day. My husband, who is not a big believer in medications, thinks I’m probably getting the migraines from TMJ disorder and the medicine is not necessary. How do I know if he’s right?
Adeline
Dear Adeline,
Migraines can be the result of TMJ disorder, but there are normally other signs which accompany it. Here are some of the more common symptoms.
- Painful jaw muscles
- Popping or clicking of jaw joints
- Worn teeth
- Ear pain
There are others as well, but these are some generalized indicators. Though a self-diagnosis will do you little good. Your best bet is to see a dentist who treats TMJ. They can give you a thorough exam and narrow down the cause of your particular TMJ.
For instance, worn teeth are usually a sign you grind or clench your teeth. Not only can this lead to TMJ, but it also wears your teeth down to nubs, requiring them to need dental crowns in order to function properly. Yet, a simple night guard worn at night can completely protect your teeth and ease up the pressure to your jaw.
In other cases, it’s a matter of your bite being thrown off by poor alignment. There can be several solutions for this depending on the severity of the problem.
Who Should Treat Your TMJ?
There isn’t a recognized specialty in TMJ, therefore any dentist can technically claim to treat it. However, the way the muscles, joints, and teeth line up is a complicated matter and requires some post-doctoral training in order to be effective. It’s imperative you see a dentist who’s invested time in learning how to properly treat it at a reputable institution.
Here are some well-qualified places a dentist may go to get trained in TMJ Disorder:
- The Kois Center
- The Pankey Institute
- Dawson Academy
- Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies
Any of these places offers extensive instruction on the diagnosis and treatment of TMJ Disorder. You should be in safe hands with a dentist who’s studied at one of them.
This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.