Chapel Hill & Durham TMJ Headache Treatment

Do you have chronic headaches or migraines? Do you wake up in the morning with a sore jaw? Do you clench or grind your teeth? All of these are symptoms of TMJ syndrome or temporomandibular joint disorder.

Commonly known as TMJ, it is an acute or chronic pain condition that occurs when your jaw is out of alignment. When your bite is healthy – the top jaw is aligned with your bottom jaw. This means that your bite is in its optimal position, the muscles are calm and relaxed, and your jaw functions comfortably.

When the jaw is misaligned (a condition called malocclusion), a variety of problems can occur.

Symptoms associated with TMJ disorders :

• Clicking or popping of the jaw
• Limited jaw function
• Pain in the neck, shoulders and upper back
• Pain and pressure in the ears and face
• Migraines
• Dizziness
• Hearing loss
• Jaw pain or tenderness of the jaw

To alleviate these symptoms, your jaw needs to be realigned. To put your bite back into its optimal position, Dr. Saib uses splint therapy. When the splint (an oral appliance) is placed over the upper teeth, it immediately repositions the muscles, joint and teeth in a harmonious position, working together without any strain or pain.

Splint therapy helps redistribute and redirect the biting forces, eliminating headaches and other problems that can occur as a result of malocclusion.