Virginia beach Cosmetic and Neuromuscular Dentistry Blog - Dr. Michael Folck

One out of every eight Americans suffers from chronic headaches and migraines. Commonly, people look to prescription medications to cure these painful occurrences. However, mounting evidence suggests that one of the frequently overlooked causes of headaches is a misaligned bite. Pain medications may treat the symptoms, but they cannot alleviate the cause. Only by working with a neuromuscular dentist like Dr. Michael Folck can the underlying issue be corrected.

When your bite is not aligned properly your jaw is forced to work harder to provide its basic functions. Tension on muscles is a leading cause of dull, throbbing headaches. Indications that muscle strain in your jaw is causing your headaches include:

• Pain behind the eyes
• Sore, tired jaw muscles
• Clicking or popping noises when you chew

These symptoms often point to TMD, an easily treatable dental problem that, if left undiagnosed, can lead to a lifetime of pain and discomfort.

In addition, overactive muscles can impinge on nearby nerves and blood vessels. Pinched nerves can cause numbness, tingling, and pain anywhere in the face. When your circulation is affected by a restricted blood vessel, it also lead to headaches.

Tension headaches and circulation problems can also trigger migraines.

Treating Headaches with Dentistry
Treating TMD requires realigning your bite into its optimal position. To do this, Dr. Folck will use a special machine to relax the muscles in your jaw enabling him to determine the correct position for your bite. Once determined, TMD treatment options including orthotics, orthodontics, and smile reconstruction will be discussed with you. The treatment option most suited to you will depend on your particular needs, and will be determined during your consultation with Dr. Folck.

If you live in or around Portsmouth, Norfolk, Hampton, Chesapeake, Newport News, or Virginia Beach, Virginia and are suffering from chronic headaches, please contact Michael P. Folck DDS to schedule an initial consultation and evaluation for TMD.