Can a dentist help me with my headaches?

Headache Symptoms of TMJ Disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Daily headaches are high on the list of symptoms for temporomandibular disorders and obstructive sleep apnea. While there are many different types of headaches; those associated with TMJ disorders or OSA generally include tension headaches, cluster headaches and migraine headaches.

A tension headache creates a sense of dull, steady pain and constant pressure around the head. Cluster headaches occur in multiples, often several times a week; patients describe the pain as coming from behind the eyes and one side of the head.

Migraine symptoms are more severe and may make the patient painfully sensitive to light and sound. Migraines can cause a throbbing headache, nausea, blurred vision and other sensory problems. Referred to as ‘attacks‘, migraines can last from a few hours to a few days. The level of migraine symptoms can vary from person to person, however, they can be quite debilitating and may require emergency medical care.

TMJ disorders (or dysfunction) and Headaches

The TMJ connects our jaw to our skull; the muscles that control the TMJ extend along the jaw and around to the back of the head. The temporomandibular joint has been called the ‘great imposter’. This is because symptoms of TMJ disorders can appear to be unrelated to the jaw joints, such as with sinus pain, earaches, ringing ears, vertigo, migraines, headaches or shoulder and neck pain.

When the TMJ muscles are repeatedly tightened (as with bruxism and clenching) and become over-strained, this can cause intense facial pain. Facial pain and myofascial pain can be a contributing factor for tension and migraine headaches.

There are a number of treatment options for TMJ disorders, based on symptoms and causative factors. Dr. Bennett may recommend oral appliance therapy and temporary use of medications to help restore healthy function to the TMJ and minimize or eliminate facial pain and headaches.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Headaches

Obstructive sleep apnea is a form of sleep-disordered breathing that causes the body to stop breathing several times during sleep due to a blocked (obstructed) airway.

A common complaint associated with obstructive sleep apnea is chronic morning headaches. This may be linked to reduced oxygen saturation levels, or, added stress on the facial muscles and TMJ as the patient struggles to breathe by adjusting the position of the mouth and jaw. OSA and TMD often occur together, with each making the other worse.

Moderate to severe OSA patients may be treated with CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) therapy. CPAP is designed to keep the airway open by having the patient breathe a steady flow of pressurized air through a face mask that is worn while sleeping.

Patients that are unable to tolerate CPAP may respond to oral appliance therapy. Macon dentist Dr. Leigh Bennett works closely with sleep physicians to provide oral appliance therapy for patients with obstructive sleep apnea that are CPAP intolerant.