Did you know that patients who are diagnosed with fibromyalgia commonly have temporomandibular joint dysfunction as well? According to research administered by the National Institutes of Health, fibromyalgia patients have a high incidence of TMJ disorder and exhibit classic TMJ symptoms such as clicking or popping sounds during mouth movement, along with facial pain and muscle pain in the head and neck.
Fibromyalgia is a painful and often debilitating disease. For some people the pain can be so intense, it gives sufferers incapacitating migraines. Patients with fibromyalgia typically experience deep, radiating pain throughout their bodies, especially near joints. Those with fibromyalgia can also experience stiffness and difficulty moving. It is common for migraine medications to be prescribed for these symptoms, offering very little or no relief. That is because the headaches and pains are a result of temporomandibular joint disorder, or a misaligned jaw. Other symptoms of a misaligned jaw or bad bite are ringing in the ear, pain in the face, neck shoulder and back, vertigo or dizziness, tingling or numbness in the fingers, ear pain or stuffiness, TMJ pain and migraine or chronic headaches.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) studied the symptoms of 60 male and female patients with fibromyalgia. Nearly 70% of patients experienced facial pain near the TMJs while 35% of the study’s participants reported TMJ disorder symptoms such as difficulty opening the mouth and discomfort when eating. The NIH concluded that patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia should also be tested for TMJ disorder.
Physiologic dentists are trained in dealing with disorders of the jaw, nerves and muscles in the neck and head, and can help in reducing and even eliminating this type of pain. In order to relieve these symptoms, a bite computer called the K7 is used to determine the optimal position for the jaw joints, muscles and teeth. A custom device called an orthotic is designed for placement over the teeth to reposition the jaw and create a balanced bite. This treatment is also indicated for relief of the other symptoms associated with a bad bite. Physiologic treatment for TMJ disorder is nonsurgical and can be life changing!
Schedule a consultation with me to discuss your symptoms and how to become medication and pain free today!
