According to the American Dental Association there are as many as 40 million Americans suffering from symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD), the most common symptom of which is a headache. These headaches can range from occasional irritating headaches to daily or near daily headaches. As many as 4% of Americans suffer from Chronic Daily Headaches (CDH), defined as having headaches 15 days a month or more. Very often, these headaches will increase in severity and intensity as years pass. You may think back and realize that the weekly headache you experienced in your 20's is now nearly a daily companion.

Most people think of the jaw as part of the skull. Actually, it is a totally separate entity, held in place by a sling of many muscles. If the relationship of the lower jaw to the upper jaw is not ideal, some of these muscles may be taut and stretched, while other muscles may be limp and drooping. Over time, this muscular imbalance may manifest itself. These stretched muscles will start to "complain" of the stress, eventually going into spasm. It is this spasm that is called a headache. Sometimes the muscle pain will be very localized - perhaps on the side of the head or just in the area of the ears. In other patients, this muscle pain may involve the entire head, neck and shoulder region.

Headaches
Morning headaches
Ear aches
Ringing in the ears
Stuffy, congested ears
Dizziness
Pain behind the eyes
Tenderness around the joint
Limited mouth opening
Clicking/popping/grating noises when opening or closing your mouth
Insomnia
Locking jaw (open or closed)

Some people experience nearly all of these symptoms. Some patients may only have one or two. If one or more of these symptoms sound familiar, you may be one of the millions of American suffering from TMD. Don't despair. You are not alone, and help is available. Our expertise in neuromuscular dentistry has helped many relax, sleep better and feel great.

What have others experienced?
Read Remarkable Stories or Watch a VIDEO to learn more.

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