Eye pain can impact more areas than just your eyes. It can lead to headaches, dizziness, and other unpleasant symptoms. However, the source of your pain may not be your eyes at all. When the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is your jaw joint that allows you to open and close your mouth, isn’t functioning properly, it can lead to discomfort in a variety of surrounding areas, including the eyes. Continue reading to learn more about the TMJ, its connection to your eyes, and the treatment options available.
How Can TMJ Dysfunction Cause Eye Pain?
The TMJ is a very complex joint. It is what allows you to open and close your mouth to chew, speak, and yawn. However, because the joint is so complex, it can get out of balance due to injury, misalignment issues, bruxism, and more. Because the nerves in the jaw and eyes have the same origin, pain that originates from the TMJ can also manifest in the eye area. This is called “orbital eye pain.” Some other symptoms that can occur include blurry vision, eyestrain, watery eyes, and light sensitivity. TMJ dysfunction can even trigger migraines, sometimes resulting in pain in the eye area.
How Is TMJ Dysfunction Treated?
If you think that you may have an issue with your TMJ, a TMJ specialist can help. Here are some of the treatment options and how they can help:
• Occlusal Splint: This is a small oral appliance that is worn to bed. It helps to protect the teeth from grinding and slightly repositions the jaw into a more relaxed and natural position. This gives the muscles in the area a chance to heal and can even create a more open airway.
• Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment: Equilibration consists of making small adjustments to the teeth, either by removing a few millimeters of enamel or by replacing restorations, so the bite and jaw line up correctly. This helps the muscles relax, preventing pain.
• Treatment with TENS Machine: TENS stands for “transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.” It consists of several small electrode patches being placed on the face and jaw. They send electrical currents into the muscles to reduce pain, help with inflammation, and stimulate blood flow.
• BOTOX for TMJ: BOTOX is usually associated with cosmetic treatment, but it has many functional uses as well. It can be used to reduce pain and discomfort associated with TMJ dysfunction. The BOTOX is injected not overactive jaw muscles, allowing for immediate relief.
Eye pain is difficult to manage, but you might be overlooking the actual problem. If you think you could have TMJ dysfunction, contact a TMJ specialist. This way, you can discuss your symptoms and put together a treatment to get some relief.
About the Practice
At Exceptional Dentistry, we have a team of three skilled TMJ and sleep specialists serving patients in Silver Spring. If you are experiencing symptoms of TMJ dysfunction, they would be happy to help. We offer multiple treatment options to help patients get the care that they need. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (301) 769-7993.