Orofacial Pain Treatment

We Offer Solutions for Orofacial Pain. Our Dedicated Medical Staff Provides Treatment to Help with Orofacial Pain. Please Give Us a Call.  Serving Patients From All Over the USA. Locations in Bloomington IL, Peoria – Dunlap IL, Mishawaka IN, Kansas City MO, El Paso TX, and Wausau WI.

At one time in our life or another, we have all experienced pain. An extremely unpleasant experience whether it is sensory or emotional. Orofacial pain is a complex issue and can be a debilitating condition, the pain starts from the oral cavity and radiates to the head and neck region. Specialists say that orofacial pain can be caused by many different disorders affecting the mouth, head, face, and neck.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMJ Disorder is the most common cause associated with orofacial pain. Used as a broad category for a number of conditions involving pain and/or dysfunction of the jaw joints or muscles of the jaw (masticatory muscles), TMD pain can originate in the joint, bone, muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, and teeth.

Orofacial pain is one of those conditions that can have more than one origin. Sometimes it can be caused by an acute trauma such as a heavy blow or whiplash, and other times it can be caused by a slow process like excessive gum chewing or clenching your jaw.

Other Common Causes of Orofacial Pain Include:

1. Stress & Tension
2. Sleep Disorders
3. Climatic Changes
4. Inflammation or injury to surrounding tissues
5. Various neuralgias or a stabbing / burning pain due to a damaged nerve
6. Masticatory muscle disorders such as myofascial pain, myospasm, & neoplasia
7. Fractures and osteoarthritis
8. Temporomandibular Disorder (TMJ): A condition where your jaw joint slips out of position. This can result in:

• Jaw pain
• Jaw noise
• Jaw locking
• Limited jaw opening
• Atypical tooth pain
• Ear pain
• Tinnitus
• Headache
• Neck pain

Common Orofacial Pain Symptoms can include:

Headaches: Headaches and migraines in the forehead and temple, as well as a shooting pain up the back of the head are standard indications of TMD or TMJ Disorder.

Eye Pain: Many times, we see patients suffering from dull, persistent pain behind their eyes. Their eyes tend to be extremely sensitive to light and experience red or bloodshot eyes.

Mouth Discomfort: Is the ability to open your mouth limited or does it feel like your jaw is locking shut? Perhaps it feels like your jaw differs to one side when opening. Many patients with TMD and orofacial pain suffer from these three conditions.

Jaw Musculoskeletal Pain:Typically, patients will experience pain while chewing; dentists say this can be caused by tension, spasm, or fatigue of the muscles. Are you experiencing a clicking or popping jaw, maybe a dull or sharp pain in your cheek muscles? These symptoms of orofacial pain may be a good indication you are one of the millions of people suffering from TMD and looking for treatments.

Neck Problems: Have you recently been noticing a lack of mobility or stiffness in your neck? You may have shrugged it off as “maybe I slept funny”. If this becomes a persistent pattern along with achy and sore shoulders, it could be more than just a bad night’s sleep, and you might need a specialist’s help. Neck pain is a common orofacial pain and TMD indicator, which is why it is important to know what kind of symptoms to look for.

Ear Aches and Pain: Orofacial pain and TMD not only affect the jaw, but also can impact every aspect of you head, neck, shoulder, eyes, mouth, and ears. Many patients experience dull prolonged earaches and pain even if there is no ear infection. Other common ear problems include a low buzzing or ringing in their ears along with decreased hearing. Depending on how severe the pain is, you may also experience vertigo or dizziness.

If you are suffering from any of the symptoms listed above, Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders offers treatments for patients suffering from orofacial pain and TMJ Disorder. Our neuromuscular trained dentists will help patients achieve a higher level of jaw function and movement, while reducing orofacial pain with state-of-the-art treatments and drug-free pain relievers. With cutting edge technology and custom made mouthpieces called neuromuscular orthotics, our dental team can help you relieve the pain and regain a comfortable, healthier, and beautiful smile. Koala® Center For Sleep & TMJ Disorders has multiple locations across the U.S. Click here to find your nearest sleep clinic.