Headaches and Migraines

Serving Fresno, Reedley and surrounding areas

Unexplained, chronic headaches and migraines are one of the most common symptoms of a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problem, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMJ headaches are tension headaches, caused by the stress of muscles that can never relax as a result of malocclusion, or bad bite.

Some people may be dubious that a bad bite might cause such powerful and persistent headaches, but there are actually several mechanisms that translate poor bite alignment into constant pain:

Constant tension of the muscles can squeeze the skull. The combined stress on the muscles and bones leads to pain.
Tight muscle fibers can restrict blood flow to areas of the face, and the body responds by increasing blood supply. Increased supply and restricted flow leads to increased pressure, which can create a vascular headache.
Clenching and grinding the teeth can put pressure onto the bones of the skull, creating pain in the head.

Because of their frequency and severity, TMD headaches are often mistakenly diagnosed as migraines. The treatment of migraines often involves heavy medication as well as major lifestyle changes.

Of course, there are many ways to treat pain from medications to cutting nerves, but the only way to really cure this condition is to treat the underlying cause. TMD treatment tackles the source of the problem and leads to a reduction of several other symptoms attendant on TMD, such as:

Neck, shoulder, face, back pain
Locking, clicking, popping, or limited movement of the jaw
Difficulty chewing or swallowing
Numbness in the extremities
Ear problems, including pressure or congestion

To learn more about neuromuscular dentistry, please select from the following links:

If you are suffering unexplained headaches and migraines that have proven resistant to treatment by your doctors, you may be able to receive relief by consulting a neuromuscular dentist who can apply a sophisticated course of TMD treatment.

In Fresno, Visalia, Reedley, and the Central California Valley, Ikuta Smiles is your neuromuscular dentistry center.