Headaches and Migraines — Symptoms of TMJ?

    /24-7PressRelease/ - NEW YORK, NY, January 17, 2008 - If you suffer from chronic migraines or mild to severe pain in your head, face, neck and shoulders, you may be experiencing TMJ, (Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome). TMJ is often the root cause of chronic headaches and related pain, occurring when the jaw joint is out of alignment and prevents your upper and lower teeth from meeting properly (known as a misaligned bite). This causes a constant contraction of the jaw muscles that leads to tension and pain.

Many people are diagnosed as having migraine headaches when, in fact, the cause of these severe headaches is TMJ. While pain medications may help, they won't correct the misalignment that is causing the symptoms in the first place.

A visit to a qualified neuromuscular dentist, like Dr. Michael Iott in Manhattan, can give you a correct diagnosis. His website describes how he evaluates a patient for TMJ.

TMJ Symptoms

Those who suffer with TMJ frequently complain of:
· Headaches
· Chronic facial pain
· Neck and back pain
· Unexplained toothaches
· Unexplained earaches

Other complaints may include:
· Dizziness
· Ringing or stuffiness in ears
· Pressure in front of ears
· Clicking, popping, grinding noises in the jaw joints
· A locked or stiff jaw joint
· Difficulty fully opening or closing mouth
· Pain behind or above the eyes
· Pain while chewing or speaking
· Tight or sore throat
· Difficulty swallowing

If you have any combination of these symptoms, a neurological dentist can perform an examination that includes:
· A thorough medical/dental history
· Specific X-rays of the jaw bone and jaw joints
· An examination of the jaw muscles
· Other studies as needed

The good news is that once your symptoms are under control and the joint and muscle pain is being managed, your neuromuscular dentist can then determine what other treatment may be needed to permanently solve the problem.

If you are suffering from headache or migraines and think they may be TMJ related, contact Dr. Michael Iott today for your initial consultation.

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