Can Braces Really Cause Headache and TMJ Issues Later in Life?

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, more commonly known as TMJ, refers to a condition where an individual experiences various levels of head and neck pain, discomfort and headache when moving the jaw joints and muscles of the jaw. The temporomandibular joint is responsible for performing actions requiring the opening and closing of the mouth i.e. chewing, biting, talking, yawning, etc., and for creating the necessary up, down movement, and side-to-side motion. This particular joint bridges the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone (side of head). As an individual opens and closes their mouth, a complex series of muscle and cartilage within and surrounding the joint aids in proper jaw movement and bite position.

The painful symptoms of headache and TMJ dysfunction occur when the normal alignment of the joint structure

disrupts or compromises a person’s natural biting motion and jaw placement. When the natural chewing motion is off-balance, the surrounding muscles and joints of the jaw overcompensate, causing muscular pain as well as migraines and headaches. This may be a result of trauma to the jaw, and in some cases, the result of past orthodontic treatment. The process for implementing orthodontic braces utilizes a constant measure of forced pressure on the teeth over a length of time while readjusting an individual’s natural bite path or jaw placement. So yes, braces and other orthodontic work done in your pre-teens or teens can ultimately be the reason why you are now having headaches or TMJ pain now, later in life. Because the process involves the realignment of the temporomandibular joint structure, it is imperative to be under the care of a skilled orthodontic, headache and TMJspecialist trained in TMJ and its causes.

Dr. Rayl specializes in the field of headache and TMJ dysfunction diagnosing, treating and relieving TMJ pain and discomfort while implementing remedies for long term TMJ prevention. By utilizing state of the art techniques and advanced oral appliances, Dr. Rayl makes pain relief simpler and offers remedies for preventing TMJ later in life. While realigning and stabilizing an individual’s muscle alignment, a headache and TMJ specialist secures proper bite balance during and after the implementation of orthodontic braces. When under the care of a skilled headache and TMJ specialist such as Dr. Rayl, patients obtain helpful post-treatment techniques and therapy for long-term relief of headache and TMJ symptoms. After achieving proper joint realignment, patients learn therapeutic concepts for maintaining an optimal jaw position, ultimately creating a future free of joint pain, headache and TMJ suffering. So if you are someone who has had braces or other orthodontic procedures done earlier in your lifetime and are currently having headaches or jaw pains that you can’t explain, come in to see Dr. Rayl at the Denver Institute for Headache, TMJ and Sleep Disorders so you can be accurately diagnosed  and receive the pain relieving treatment you’ve been looking for. Visit our headache and TMJ website at www.stopheadachesnow.org.