by Dr. C Lun Wang | Apr 23, 2020 | Uncategorized
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, and TMJ is commonly used to refer to disorders of this joint. The temporomandibular joint is the joint where your jaw attaches to your skull. Disorders of this joint are not uncommon.
So, the question arises, what happens if you have TMJ and you don’t treat it?
You won’t die.
Common disorders of the temporomandibular joint are not life-threatening. So, if you don’t treat it, you won’t necessarily shorten your life.
However, TMJ disorders and treatment of these disorders is a quality of life thing. If you have TMJ and experience chronic discomfort, then wouldn’t you be better off to treat it?
It may get worse.
This risk of not treating TMJ is your pain and discomfort may get worse. Some people experience jaw pain, and others have headaches. Patients may hear a clicking sound when they move their jaw. Some people feel like their jaw is locking.
All of these things are uncomfortable. The question becomes how much do these issues interfere with your daily life and function. You may feel much better if you undergo some treatment for it.
If you choose not to treat your TMJ disorder, you may experience the following:
* Severe headaches
* Back pain, shoulder, and neck discomfort
* Tinnitus
* Teeth grinding
TMJ disorders have also been closely connected with depression and anxiety. If this disorder is left untreated by a specialist it can cause anxiety and depression which can eventually impair mood and sleep habits.
Related teeth grinding is a major problem.
Left untreated teeth grinding can severely damage your teeth and your bite requiring extensive and expensive tooth repair.
And it’s also clear that those suffering from chronic pain have a shorter life expectancy.
TMJ disorder is triggered by numerous daily tasks like yawing, eating, or talking. Anyone who suffers from this disease should go for medical treatment. Failure to see a doctor can bring lifelong negative consequences that can significantly impact your quality of life.
The BC Head Pain Institute was launched by Dr. Cheng Lun Wang specifically to help those with pain in the head, neck, and jaw. With two offices in Surrey and Vancouver, BC, it’s easy to come and see us.
If you have any questions about this article, or would like to schedule a visit, please contact us.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Mar 21, 2020 | Uncategorized
The trigeminal nerve is a cranial nerve that innervates part of the face. This nerve is not only responsible for much of the feeling and sensation in the face, but also for motor control of the jaw for biting and chewing. Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition in which this nerve can cause severe pain in individuals suffering from it.
What is Trigeminal Neuralgia?
Neuralgia refers to any stabbing, burning or severe pain that is caused by a damaged or irritated nerve. So trigeminal neuralgia is caused by the trigeminal nerve being irritated. As previously stated, this nerve provides feeling to most of the face, as well as the teeth and mouth (mandibular nerve) through it’s many branches. As the nerves are all interconnected, any stimulus at one part can cause sensation at another.
Trigeminal neuralgia is often caused by the trigeminal nerve having pressure put on it by an artery or vein at the base of the brain. Trigeminal neuralgia may be a sign or symptom of a more severe disease, such as multiple sclerosis, but can also happen without other underlying issues.
People who suffer from trigeminal neuralgia will experience a range of symptoms, including episodes of shooting pain, constant throbbing pain, or short attacks of pain. This could be in many areas across the face, or it could feel like dental-related head pain.
It can be triggered by a number of things, including touching your teeth or face, eating, movement such as smiling, and talking. There are medications and treatments available through a doctor.
Other Trigeminal Nerve Indications
The trigeminal nerve will also indicate should there be another problem. As previously mentioned, this nerve connects directly to the nerves that innervate the teeth. This means that any dental-related problems will send pain signals up this nerve. As the nerve is connected to other areas on the face, this pain could radiate elsewhere and not be felt on the tooth where it originated. This makes deciphering the cause of the pain more difficult.
If you are experiencing occasional, or constant pain it may be a sign of a more serious issue. It is best to seek out head pain treatment in Vancouver and put a stop to it, so you can get back to living you life.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Feb 25, 2020 | Uncategorized
As you are probably aware, head pain can be caused by a number of different factors and conditions. One common cause of head pain are temporomandibular disorders, or TMD. TMD can be caused by many problems, all associated with movement and pain around the temporomandibular joints (jaw joints). Diagnosing the exact cause of head pain can be a challenge, but new technologies such as digital bite force analysis are making this simpler.
What is digital bite force analysis?
Digital bite force analysis is a scan (commonly referred to as a T-Scan) that can be carried out by a dentist to accurately identify any occlusal forces that may be causing TMD. An occlusal force is pressure that is exerted on opposing teeth when the jaw is closed or clenched. This is usually a result of teeth not aligning correctly.
A T-scan allows dentists to quickly and accurately correct areas of occlusion forces. Older methods, such as articulating paper, are not as efficient as a scan. This meant that there may have been repeat visits necessary, treatment can take longer, and may have been less effective. Having occlusal force issues identified and remedied is a quick, safe way to reduce TMD symptoms and head pain. The digital bite force analysis can give the best indicator of the issues, and provide information needed for the best course of treatment.
Head pain is complicated, as there are so many potential causes. BC Head Pain Institute can help with your head pain treatment in Vancouver.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Jan 28, 2020 | Uncategorized
Something that many people are not aware of this that oral health and well-being can actually be connected to headaches. It is actually very common for tension headaches to be caused by dental problems. Here are some common dental problems that may be the culprit.
Cavities and Infections
A simple cavity may be the cause of your tension headache. Because nerves are all connected, any cavity or infection at the cavity site can cause pain to travel along the nerve and be “deferred” at a different location. It is common, then, for pain to be felt as a tension headache, whereas the culprit is actually a tooth.
Misalignment
Another common cause of dental related tension headaches is a jaw or teeth misalignment. This misalignment can often cause strain and other stresses on the muscles, which results in the headache. A dentist can help with this by providing orthodontic work to fix the misalignment.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder
TMJ for short, this is a major cause of tension headaches. The joint in question with this disorder is the jaw’s connection to your skull, and it affects not only the joint but all the surrounding tissue and nerves. TMJ has many causes, including stress, bruxism, jaw misalignment, poor orthodontic work, and excessive jaw overuse. As you can see, some of these are also previously mentioned issues, so TMJ and resulting headaches can be fairly compex. While TMJ can sometimes go away on its own, it often does require intervention and the help of a TMJ specialist.
If you are suffering from tension headaches, it might be a dental problem which is causing it. A visit to your dentist, ro the help of a headache specialist in Vancouver may be exactly what you need to start treating those tension headaches.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Dec 23, 2019 | Uncategorized
If you suffer from headaches and migraines,
tinnitus, vertigo and dizziness, or temporomandibular disorders, you may have
had TruDenta rehabilitation therapy recommended to you by a head pain
specialist. So what is TruDenta rehabilitation therapy?
What
is TMJ Disorder?
To fully understand what TruDenta
rehabilitation therapy is, it is first important to understand the cause of
your head pain and what factors may play a part. For this, we will look at
temporomandibular disorder, or TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder can lead to many
other symptoms, including the previously mentioned migraines and tinnitus.
TMJ disorder can be caused by a number of
factors, or even a combination of these. It may be caused by:
- Stress leading to muscle
tension in the joint
- Physical Trauma
- Dental or Orthodontic work or
problems
- Grinding of teeth
What
is TruDenta Rehabilitation Therapy?
The TruDenta process first begins with
comprehensive diagnosis to paint a clear picture of what is happening to cause
the issues. With the number of known causes, this is an important step. This
diagnosis includes force and range of motion analysis, symptoms and headache
history, and a muscle exam.
Once a diagnosis has been made, and the
cause of the problem found, the treatment process can begin. The treatment
plans are tailored for each patient, based on the findings from the diagnosis.
Some of the treatments that are used as part of this may include ultrasound,
muscle therapy, trigger point manipulation, and photobiomodulation.
TruDenta has shown to be an effective
treatment and recommended by many head pain specialists due to it not relying
on painkillers or other prescription drugs, and being tailored and specific for
each individual. Ask your head pain specialist about TruDenta rehabilitation
therapy today.
by Dr. C Lun Wang | Nov 26, 2019 | Uncategorized
Headaches are not all the same, and the causes, symptoms and
severity between them can drastically differ. Differentiating between types of
headaches and having a proper headache diagnosis is key to treating a problem
and providing quick headache relief. Headaches can commonly be classified into
two main categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches.
Primary Headaches
Primary headaches are headaches which are not a symptom of
another problem. Simply put, primary headaches are the problem themselves. One
common type of primary headache is a tension headache. These headaches are
often short lived and have a variety of triggers including stress, dehydration,
stress, anxiety and depression. These headaches can often be prevented by
eating well, sleeping well, exercising, and managing stress levels.
Migraines are also a well-known type of primary headache.
Migraines are usually more painful than tension headaches, and tend to last for
longer periods. These headaches may cause other symptoms rather than pain, such
as light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, nausea or even vomiting. These
headaches can last for a long time, often days.
Secondary Headaches
Secondary headaches are headaches which are caused by
another problem. This means that the headache is the symptom of another
problem. Common causes of secondary headaches include caffeine withdrawal, jaw
and dental problems, or head injuries.
Hormonal changes in women, such as those that happen during a period, during
pregnancy, or during menopause can also trigger secondary headaches.
Another common cause of a secondary headache is a hangover,
caused by the consumption of too much alcohol. This throbbing headache usually
includes sensitivity to light and movement, and may take a day or two to fully
recover from.
Within these two main categories are a number of other types
of headaches. What is important is to recognize and differentiate the cause or
reason for having a specific type of headache, and to seek help should it be a
sign of something more serious, or preventing you from enjoying life. For more
information, seek out a headache clinic in Vancouver, such as BC Headpain.
