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Modern Diagnosis of Head, Neck & Facial Pain
Nearly a quarter of the population suffer from some form of temporomandibular disorder (TMD) which may include head, neck and facial symptoms. Unfortunately, many of these sufferers are misdiagnosed with everything from migraines and tension headaches to neuritis, neuralgia or even psychosomatic illness. As the true cause goes unrecognised, patients may be led to prolonged drug therapy, labelled as hypochondriacs or dismissed as incurable.
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TMD INCLUDE:
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Muscles, Teeth & Joints
Dentistry is about more than just teeth, it is also about the role muscles play in the relationship between teeth, bone and alignment of jaw with the rest of the body. Physical and emotional stress can also be a factor in tight, tense muscles which reduce the adaptive capabilities of the jaw. Usually, the patient cannot voluntarily relax the muscles that are held in constant tension. Depending on the individual circumstances, muscles may be in a constant state of hyperactivity. This is due to subconscious programming (proprioception) or because they are in the self-perpetuating "pain-spasm-pain" cycle.
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Dentistry & Technology
The jaw is literally one end of the postural (skeletal) chain. When teeth do not fit together properly, it can result in muscle tension of the face and jaw. This condition, or the trauma of accidental injury, can result in a state of sustained elevation of activity in these muscles. A prime example is the delayed onset of muscle spasm following whiplash injury. Prolonged spasm of facial muscles can lead to chronic or transient muscle pain, often perceived in other areas (call "referred pain") and thus, subject to misdiagnosis. A wide range of diagnostic methods are available to identify these problems. Each method is used only as needed in each individual case.
Consult with us for undiagnosed head, neck, facial pain, whiplash injuries, jaw malposition or TM joint arthritis.
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