Did you know that Americans miss more than 157-million workdays per year because of headaches? In many of these cases, the pain source doesn’t originate in the head, but in the tiny little joints called the TMJs, located just in front of the ears. Many people may have never considered that a dentist could help with chronic headaches, earaches, and facial pain, but Dr. Higginbottom has brought pain relief to hundreds of patients.
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, allows your jaw to open and close, as well as glide forward and sideways. Even a slight bite misalignment can cause TMJ irritation. External injury, bruxism (grinding your teeth while sleeping), and osteoarthritis can also cause undue pressure on the TMJ. The resulting nerve irritation can create pain along the jawbone, in the ears, and sometimes into the head, shoulders, and neck. Restorative and cosmetic dentist Dr. Higginbottom recommends the NTI-tss splint, a convenient, easy-to-use oral appliance. Worn at night, the NTI-tss prevents back teeth from touching and causes the jaw muscles to relax in a natural position. Many users report relief after only a few nights of proper use. Visit our patient library to learn more about TMJ dysfunction and bruxism.
If the pain of TMJ dysfunction affects your lifestyle, Frank L. Higginbottom, DDS and Associates can help. Call our Downtown Dallas dental office to schedule your pain-relieving appointment today. Our Downtown Dallas location serves patients from Uptown, Mesquite and University Park, too.