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THE PROBLEM: Headaches, Migraines, Jaw PaiN
Facts and Stats TMJ/TMD, Migraine & Headaches
(According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)
- 60 million – The number of Americans who suffer from headaches associated with TMD
- 4 billion – average dollars Americans spend yearly on TMD treatment
- 24 billion – average dollars Americans spend yearly for headache treatment
- 35% – amount of people with TMD/Migraines who will develop chronic TMD and headaches
- 75% of the US population has experienced one or more signs or symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD).
- 157 million – work days missed from people calling in sick with headaches
- 24.7 billion – dollars lost by US employers from those sick (headache) days
- Women are four times as likely to have TMD/Migraines as men.
- People with TMD/Migraines usually have more than one sign or symptom.
Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) can cause head and neck pain, facial pain, otalgia, sinus and eye pain, and is very often associated with tension headaches and migraines. Other symptoms include clicking/popping of the jaw joints, limited jaw opening, altered range of motion, depression, insomnia, increased fatigue, hand or finger numbness/tingling , neck/shoulder pain, teeth grinding, and sensitive teeth. Due to the many varied symptoms that patients can present with, Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) has often been called the “Great Impostor”.
Symptoms often crossover into territories that lead patients to medical specialists in several disciplines. TMD patients may see chiropractors and physical therapists for joint and muscle pain in areas surrounding the bilateral joint, as well as for tension at the base of the neck. Also, these patients often fill the waiting rooms of ENTs, neurologists, and emergency rooms for symptoms which unsuspectingly originate from TMD.
Ruling out or resolving TMD and its associated neuromuscular issues is often the missing link for patients with chronic headaches, migraines, shoulder, neck, and facial pain. By working to balance the joints and musculature in the cranio mandibular complex, we can unmask the “Great Imposter” which sends patients through a labyrinth of physicians and emergency hospital visits.
When TMD is the source of symptoms (regardless of presentation or to which specialist they are presented) successful treatment requires accurate diagnosis and treatment by a qualified team of health professionals led by a dentist, trained in TMD.