Tag: TMJ dentist kelowna

TMJ Migraines West Kelowna

Can TMJ / TMD cause migraines?

Reports have shown that the impact of migraines is a major imposition in an individual’s productivity and lifestyle. If you suffer, you may take significant time away from work, it could hinder your job performance when you are there, it can place restrictions on your daily activities and they disrupt relationships.

In the States alone, it’s been estimated that migraines account for $27 million in annual lost working days. Fortunately, researchers have uncovered and revealed much more about migraines, what causes them and how to manage them.

Migraines vary a great deal in degree and in symptom among sufferers. The severity of the symptoms can range from moderate to excruciating. One particular study found that approximately one-third of migraine sufferers routinely cancel social or family activities. Additionally, over one-half say their headaches affect their relationships with family members. Some are bothered by nausea while others experience dizziness and others still have no symptoms apart from head pain.

TMJ disorders have been identified as a significant cause of migraines and headaches.

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Can a misaligned bite cause migraines?

When your upper and lower teeth do not line up properly (also called a misaligned bite or malocclusion), it will cause strain on your TMJ joint. The muscles around will try to compensate which will can cause severe migraines and headaches.

Here’s what is happening: When the muscles in your jaw tense up — like when you grind your teeth — the pain can spread to other TMJ muscles alongside your cheeks and on the sides and top of your head, causing a migraine or headache.

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What patients say about Kelowna Holistic Dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer

[These are actual Google Reviews]

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How do you get rid of TMJ migraines and headaches?

When you suffer from TMJ migraines or headaches, please discuss your symptoms with your doctor and/or dentist. He or she will check your:

jaw movement when opening and closing your mouth
range of jaw motion
areas around your jaw(s) to identify where the pain comes from

Though the title “TMJ or physiologically based dentist” is not applicable to any dentist, (there is no official certification for this area of treatment) West Kelowna Dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer has become quite experienced with treating patients who suffer from TMJ migraines and headaches.

By carefully examining and monitoring your bite, specific modifications can be applied to realign the teeth, your overall bite, and jaw movement, which can relax the affected muscles that cause TMJ migraines and headaches.

Contact our office to learn more about TMJ Migraine & Headache Treatment or make an appointment today.

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Why choose Dr. Shauna Palmer?

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Stop treating symptoms only, treat the causes
Forget about a one size fits all approach to dentistry

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Health & Beauty Dentistry

TMJ Jaw Pain West Kelowna

Why does my jaw ache on one side? I need help.

Do you suffer from jaw pain? If you do, you’re not alone. Millions of people experience these symptoms because of a condition called TMJ disorder, or TMD for short – temporomandibular disorder.

Jaw pain is often caused by jaw misalignment. This causes jaw pain because of the strain that’s placed upon the muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments of the head. When all of these tissues are in proper alignment, the jaw functions at full capacity and without pain.

The strain, though, can lead to headaches, migraines, and tooth pain. It can even lead to cracked or broken teeth.

What causes misalignment and TMJ disorder? There are a number of causes, including:

Jaws that don’t develop properly
Missing teeth
Gaps in the teeth
Enamel wear
Crowded or crooked teeth

Anatomical dysfunction of the jaws, including overbite, underbite, and crossbite occur due to improper jaw development. Jaw development is altered when there is an airway problem and/or improper tongue function in early life.

The tongue is a big powerful muscle that is supposed to sit on the roof of the mouth at rest, and then just push up during swallowing. It helps develop the upper jaw to a nice wide and forward position, which allows our lower jaw to develop and function in an ideal position.

However, things like thumb-sucking, bottle feeding, tongue ties, and allergies that cause airway congestion and obstruction all alter the function of our tongue in early life. The tongue no longer sits in the proper position and the muscles of the face and mouth have more dominance, causing our upper and lower jaws to develop more narrowly and more retruded. This predisposes us to dental crowding, TMJ and postural pain or problems, and airway issues like snoring and sleep apnea.

It’s important to note that a TMJ disorder will eventually lead to problems with your overall health. In addition to all of the dental problems TMD patients face, they can also end up with:

Sleep apnea (which can cause many medical problems)
Bad digestion
Making poor nutritional decisions (because no one wants to eat crunchy carrots when you have jaw pain or sore teeth)
Fatigue
Instability and poor posture.

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Can misalignment of the jaw affect your posture and overall health? Yes it can.

Is the idea that the misalignment of your jaw can lead to poor posture a new one for you? You’re not alone. Many people don’t realize just how impactful TMJ disorder and jaw pain can be on the rest of the body.

It’s amazing just how intricately connected the entire body really is, which is why a dentist West Kelowna, Dr. Shauna Palmer will encourage you to get treatment for TMD. It’s not just about fixing the teeth – it’s about fixing the body. And science backs this up.

Researchers at the University of Barcelona, Spain and the University of Innsbruck, Austria, found a correlation between dental malocclusion and posture in separate 2016 studies.

The data from these studies showed that when one part of the body is out of alignment, others will be as well. So, patients with TMJ disorder are more likely to experience muscle fatigue, loss of balance, and pain throughout their body.

How does a loss of balance fit into this scenario? It’s due to the vestibular nerves related to balance and control, as well as the trigeminal nerve, which is the main nerve involved in mastication.

The muscles of the neck also play a role, and when there is strain and tightness, which is common in TMD patients, these nerves are activated. The result is jaw pain, as well as pain throughout the head, neck, and shoulders, as well as loss of balance and stability.

TMJ Jaw pain dentist in West Kelowna to the rescue

Thankfully, Dr. Shauna Palmer, can help. Through the implementation of certain dental procedures that put the jaw in a healthy, neutral position, you will experience:

Less pain throughout the body
Improved posture due to better alignment and less pain
Fewer headaches
Less fatigue
Fewer injuries, like sprains, strains, and fractures (due to balance improvement)
Better athletic performance.

Though jaw issues might not seem significant at first, research is continuing to show how closely linked the jaw is with the rest of the body. Therefore, when you get treatment from a West Kelowna TMJ dentist, you can rest assured that you’ll be taking steps to improve your overall health, not just your dental health.

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What patients say about Kelowna TMJ Dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer

[These are actual Google Reviews]

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Improve your posture: How Health & Beauty dentistry can help

Isn’t it amazing to know that by tackling the cause of your jaw pain you can address multiple health issues?

This is why it’s so important to have any jaw, head, or facial pain treated as soon as possible. Fortunately, your West Kelowna TMJ dentist can help.

With a series of physiologic/neuromuscular based tests, including sonography, electromyography, jaw tracking, 3-D imaging, a sleep study to see what the airway and jaw are doing at night, and a comprehensive exam, Dr. Shauna Palmer can come up with a definitive diagnosis. Once that has been done, you’ll receive a treatment plan that can include physiologically based orthotic therapy, physiologic based orthodontics, bite adjustments, physiologically based restorations, or a combination of treatments.

With some time, you’ll notice you have less pain and tension throughout your entire body. When everything is in proper alignment, you’ll have better posture, less pain, and more energy, all of which will allow you to live a full, happy, and healthy life.

Do you experience jaw pain? It might be a TMJ disorder. Contact Dr. Shauna Palmer at Health & Beauty dentistry to find out about possible TMJ jaw pain treatment options.