Headach, Neck, Orofacial, burning mouth and Jaw Pain (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex joint that acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. You have on joint on each side of your jaw. 

TMJ disorders, a type of temporomandibular disorder or TMD/TMJ, Jaw pain can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement. 

What causes TMJ dysfunction and pain?

Occasionally, TMJ pain may occur because of dysfunction within the TMJ or it's supporting structures. Dr Joseph Ryan specialises in helping diagnose and manage your specific TMJ dysfunction. 

Common Signs and Symptoms 

TMJ dysfunction can cause a number of symptoms

• Discomfort or pain in the jaw especially when eating
• ear pain
• locking of the jaw, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
• Headaches
• Jaw clicking, crunching, clunking noises
• Ear fullness or muffled ear sounds
• Neck of shoulder pain
• An uncomfortable or uneven bite

Treatment 

The treatment of TMJ dysfunction should be prescribed based on your specific diagnosis. The goal of TMJ dysfunction  treatment is to reduce pain, improve function and quality of life. 

There are various treatments available and Dr Joseph Ryan offers treatment in both Wollongong and Canberra and would tailor the treatment to an individuals need. Treatment options include:

Conservative care of a soft diet, use of heat or cold packs, jaw stretching/strengthening exercises

Prescription of certain medication

The fabrication of an occlusal night splint 

Low level laser or photobiomodulation therapy 

Injectable therapy such as botox of trigger point injections

A headache is the broad descriptive name given to pain in the head. There are many different types of headaches. Dr Joseph Ryan may be able to help diagnose and treat your specific headache disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

Dull aching pain or pressure in the head that can change throughout the day

Nausea

Visual disturbances 

Trouble concentrating

Tender scalp and or face

Patients with TMJ dysfunction can often wake with a headache 

Treatment

There are various treatments available and Dr Joseph Ryan would tailor the treatment to an individuals need. Treatment options include:

Conservative care of exercises, sleep hygiene and massage

Occlusal appliance therapy

Injectable therapy such as trigger point injection and Botox

Low level laser therapy and photobiomodulation therapy 

Bruxism is the habit of forcible clenching and grinding of the teeth.

It is very common and occurs in up to 30% of the population. 

IT can occur during the day (awake bruxism) or while sleeping (sleep bruxism).

Forces generated by functional tooth contact have no harmful effect on masticatory system but forces generated by bruxism which are directed laterally and are significantly greater, may affect one or more elements of masticatory system. Individual adaptability, duration, frequency and intensity contribute to the resulting effect.

Signs and Symptoms

Jaw stiffness in the morning

Headaches

Tooth wear

Tongue indentation

Cheek ridging 

Cracked teeth

Maester muscle enlargement

Grinding noises  

Alveolar bone loss

TMJ dysfunction

Treatment

Management of awake bruxism is generally focussed on habit reversal training, relaxation, aiming to reduce emotional stress.  It is difficult to cease the muscle activity during sleep. As such, management of sleep bruxism is based on treating the consequences of sleep bruxism. Management may vary from lifestyle changes, such as avoiding smoking, alcohol, caffeine, and illicit drugs, to behavioural medicine including relaxation and good sleep hygiene. Some individuals may benefit from an occlusal splint  or injectable therapies  to reduce grinding sounds and prevent further damage to the teeth, while others may need additional medications to help with any associated 

Trigeminal  neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that  affects the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is the largest nerve arising from the brain. 

People who have trigeminal neuralgia feel pain that is:

• severe, sharp, stabbing, shooting or
• like an electric shock

Having this condition generally affects one side of your head. The main symptom is a short-lasting pain that happens from a few seconds to minutes 

The exact cause of trigeminal neuralgia is unknown, it may be a healthy blood vessel, putting pressure on the nerve.

Treatment 

Treatment for idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia is often medication (anti-convulsant medication), other treatment modalities include Botox injections and neurosurgery. 

Burning mouth syndrome is a condition in which you have a burning sensation in the mouth. The discomfort can affect anywhere in the mouth including tongue, lips and palate. Burning mouth syndrome may appear without any known triggers and be upsetting and interfere in daily activities.  

Signs and Symptoms

Burning mouth does not cause physical changes.

• a feeling of burning, or scalding mouth
• dry or rough