Neuromuscular Headache Blog - I Hate Headaches

Neuromuscular dentistry is the practice of placing the jaw into its optimal position, relieving the symptoms associated with TMJ/TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder, including headaches.

There are several types of headaches that respond well to neuromuscular treatment, including migraines and secondary headaches brought on by trauma to the jaw.

The first step a neuromuscular dentist will take is to focus on relieving any headache pain, jaw pain or spasms you may be experiencing as a result of your TMD. The goal is to increase blood flow, relaxing the muscles around your head, neck and face.

Secondly, the neuromuscular dentist will turn his or her attention to stabilizing your bite, realigning your jaw and returning the muscles and nerves in the jaw joint to optimal performance condition. The neuromuscular dentist will perform a physical exam which involves feeling the jaw joint as you move it around, looking for tenderness, pain, clicking or popping sounds and limited motion or locking in the joint.

Finally, the dentist will establish a long term plan, improving your bite through orthodontia, surgery or dental reconstruction.

The ultimate goal of neuromuscular dentistry in treating TMD and TMJ/TMD related headaches is to give the patient relaxed healthy muscles of the jaw, reducing the stresses placed on the body because of chronic misalignment.

If you live in Alabama, Nebraska, California, Illinois, Texas, Utah or Northern Virginia, and are experiencing TMJ/TMD related headaches, please contact us at I Hate Headaches to meet with one of our headache specialists, today.