The purpose of this article is to help some patients find appropriate help for their facial pain and other unknown issues. Many of our patients have seen multiple medical specialists in attempt to find out what is causing the various debilitating symptoms they are experiencing. Most are not aware that TMJ disorders can cause a wide range of symptoms and medical issues.
Dr. Konig explains, “When treating TMJ issues, it is necessary to look at the whole picture, not just the teeth. Posture, airway, and facial features all play a role.”
Some TMJ Symptoms are:
*Headaches
*Neck pain
*Shoulder pain
*Tired feeling in your face
*Swelling on the side of the face
*Facial Asymmetry
*Clicking or popping noises in your joint
*Worn Teeth
*Broken Teeth
*Vertigo (dizziness)
*Ringing of the ears (tinnitus)
*Airway issues (snoring or sleep apnea)
*Postural issues
And the list goes on and often patients have multiple symptoms. Sometimes no pain is present in the jaw joint.
We often see patients on multiple medications from neurological medications, to antidepressants, to muscle relaxers, and even botox to try to eliminate the problem. These methods only act as a band aid to try and mask the problem. For example, if you dislocate your shoulder, one would not try botox or medications to realign the shoulder. The same can be said for your misaligned jaw. It is sometimes necessary to reposition the jaw, non-surgically, to a better physiologic position for comfort and function.
A difference with the jaw joints is the it is the only joint in the body connected to the other joint. Due to this anatomical feature, if one joint is affected the other is too. This is a reason facial asymmetry often occurs.
If you have questions regarding Houston TMJ Treatment or Non-surgical Jaw Treatment, please feel free to contact our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF, 713-668-2289.
