Headaches and TMJ in Columbia, SC

Do you experience occasional or frequent headaches that begin near your ears and travel across your forehead or down through your neck into your shoulders? Do you wake up from sleep with a sore, achy jaw? If so, you may be suffering from a disorder of the temporomandibular joint called TMD — commonly known as TMJ.

In Columbia, SC TMJ can manifest itself in many different ways. Headaches and upper body aches are common complaints, but there are other signs, including:

• Sensitive, sore teeth
• Involuntary clenching
• Joint clicking/popping
• Tingling in the fingertips
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Vertigo (loss of equilibrium)
• Loose or ground-down teeth
• Limited range of motion
• Dizziness/poor balance

If headaches are your primary concern, the first line of defense is a transparent occlusal guard that is custom-fitted by Dr. Griffin. Worn at night, it deprograms your jaw muscles when they are tempted to clench.

If your teeth have suffered extensive wear due to nighttime grinding and “bruxism” (a continual tightening of the jaw muscles), Dr. Griffin may recommend a more comprehensive rehabilitation program that includes bite correction and restorative care.

To get your joints out of pain and back into proper alignment, call WildeWood Aesthetic Dentistry and Dr. Justin Griffin about Columbia, SC TMJ relief today.

Get Headache Relief that Lasts!

If you suffer from TMJ, Columbia dentist Dr. Justin Griffin wants you to know that it can stop in a matter of days. The resolution process is a pain-free, anesthesia-free procedure that involves a thorough diagnosis, the taking of impressions and the use of an orthotic to correct a misaligned bite.

If you have any combination of the symptoms described above, we use a TENS unit — a device that uses electrical signals to massage your jaw muscles — to determine the severity of your clenching. If your jaw does open, close and chew better after using the TENS unit, chances are good that TMD is an issue.

Dr. Griffin then designs and fabricates a custom removable or fixed orthotic that shifts your jaw back into a harmonious position. When your jaw, mandible joints and interconnected nerves regain their ideal position, your headache pain will vanish.

Enjoy almost immediate relief from painful TMJ symptoms: call WildeWood Aesthetic Dentistry and feel like yourself again!