Treating the TMJ
If you have been told you have a serious TMJ or jaw joint problem and no one seems to be able to solve the problem, you need to see Dr. Ron Perkins of Perkins TMJ, Headache and Sleep Disorders in Rockwall, Texas. He has developed techniques to treat patients that other dentists and physicians have not been able to help. Dr. Perkins has developed specialized diagnostic techniques allowing him to recognize and treat problems missed by others. With over 35 years of experience in treating TMJ problems, Dr. Perkins has become a true TMJ expert with better than 90% success rate. Dr. Perkins has had success where other specialists have failed. Dr. Perkins works with neurologists and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) physicians to treat patients without medication. Dr. Perkins has a holistic approach to treating TMJ and headaches and he has been able to dramatically reduce medications taken by patients for headaches, depression, acid reflux, insomnia, and high blood pressure. If you want one of the best evaluations of your TMJ, please contact Dr. Ron Perkins of Perkins TMJ, Headache, and Sleep Disorders in Rockwall, Texas.
There are often serious headaches associated with TMJ problems, even severe migraine type, which Dr Perkins has been able to alleviate with his treatment techniques. If you are tired of taking multiple medications for these problems, you need to consider a different approach. Many of his new patients have previously been wearing night guards, or bite splints which are only treating some symptoms of the problem and not the true cause. In other words, they are wearing these night appliances and are still in pain. Dr Perkins explains to patients that he has been able to reduce 90% of headaches 90% of the time. Most people with these type headaches clinch or grind their teeth at night which continues to damage their TMJ and makes problems worse. In most cases, if night clenching and grinding can be corrected, then everything tends to get better.
TMJ problems, headaches, and migraines are often very significant symptoms of sleep disorders. A sleep breathing problem is caused by any disruption of the airflow in the airway during sleep (such as snoring), which results in an immediate stress reaction (Fight or Flight Response). People are not usually aware of most of these awakenings or stress reactions during sleep, but these stress hormones from the adrenal glands, such as cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine create stress responses and inflammation in our sleeping bodies. Clinching or grinding of the teeth, one of the immediate responses, causes extra stress to the jaw joints (TMJ) and muscles, resulting in jaw joint pain, headaches and migraines.
Most people do not realize they do not have to have sleep apnea to have a serious sleep disorder with very severe health consequences. Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS), a sleep disorder with no sleep apnea, is very common and results in TMJ problems, headaches and migraines, ear fullness or ringing, dizziness and vertigo, joint pains, depression and anxiety, acid reflux or indigestion, brain fog, insomnia, as well as multiple other symptoms from excessive inflammation due to stress hormones.
Treatment of sleep disorders involves the wearing a TMJ balanced oral appliance during sleep which works by gently holding the lower jaw forward, preventing the tongue from falling back into the airway. Sleep disorders are very insidious problems which can drastically damage one’s health and many people are treated for the symptoms of the disorder, rather than getting to the real cause. Good quality sleep is just as important to your health, if not more, than diet and exercise.
If you would like to discuss these issues with Dr Perkins, please fill out the TMJ survey in this section and then go to the Sleep Disorders section and fill out that survey as well. Please be aware that you do not have to have sleep apnea to have a sleep-related problem. As a matter of fact, most of Dr. Perkins’ TMJ patients do not have sleep apnea, but rather just interrupted sleep. Interrupted sleep can cause these problems and many more additional symptoms, such as high blood pressure, acid reflux, depression, and even heart problems.
TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, which describes the two jaw joints holding the lower jaw against the skull. They are fragile joints with a complicated disc mechanism that can easily get out of position causing popping and crunchy noises. When these jaw joint discs get displaced, the muscles involved with these joints can cause spasms and pain, which often result in headaches, especially behind the eyes. Clinching and grinding, called bruxism, often due to stress, can make the problems worse. Night time bruxism is often associated with sleep disorders, because the jaw is clinching to tighten the neck muscles in order to help open the airway.
Watch the treatment of TMJ and migraine patient by Dr. Ron Perkins
Be sure to take the TMJ, Headaches & Migraines survey and Dr. Perkins will call you.