Headaches? Tell your dentist!

Headaches are generally classified into several basic types: Sinus, Cluster, Tension and Migraine. You can determine which type you have by discussing it with your physician or dentist. While headaches are typically treated by your physician, improper occlusion (your bite) may play a significant role in certain types of headaches as well as other head and neck pain. One type of headache, tension, is by far the most common - estimated by some to be the cause of as much as 90% of all headaches. Further, they are headaches that often originate in, or pain is referred to, the muscles of your forehead. The muscles of the temple area of the forehead are muscles that play and important part in the posturing and closing of the jaw. If your occlusion (bite) is not right, it can lead to abnormal tension in the muscles - one of the several possible causes of tension type headaches. If the bite is not corrected, the muscles may remain tense for long periods of time. The contracted muscle does not get a chance to rest and soon suffers from poor circulation - thus a lack of needed oxygen and the accumulation of waste products of metabolism. The result can be pain in the form of a headache. New technology now allows your dentist to objectively evaluate the state of these muscles and various other factors that may be affecting your bite.