Earaches/Tinnitus
Ear Pain, Tinnitus, TMJ Pain, Headaches, Migraines, Dentistry NJ
Dr. John Sousa has the highest level of accreditation and expertise in treating chronic tinnitus and ear pain. He has been an active member of the prestigious American Academy of Craniofacial Pain for over 15 years. His knowledge and expertise in combining cosmetic, restorative and orthodontic procedures with the rehabilitation of TMJ disorders, are a free consultation away. Dr. Sousa and his dedicated Team want to welcome you to a truly comprehensive Craniofacial Pain practice. Come tell us what we can do for you!
Most of us don't think too much about our ears until something goes wrong. Ear related problems can cause a variety of symptoms, including pain, a feeling of pressure or fullness, ringing, dizziness, excessive wax or difficulty clearing ears at high altitude. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, it may surprise you to learn that they can be dentally caused.
How can you tell? Dental related ear pain is usually felt in just one ear and feels very “deep”. It may travel along the neck to the temple or to the back of the head. It is usually aggravated by jaw movement. Other clues include: sore muscles around the jaw joints, a clicking/popping or grating sound in the jaw joints or a sideways shifting of the jaw when opening wide.
How do the jaw and the ears relate? The same nerve that controls the ear's tensor tympani muscle also controls the chewing muscles. Signals sent through this nerve affect both the muscles of the jaw and those of the ear. Not only do nerves connect the ears and the jaw, but they are also physically located very close to one another. The jaw is attached to your skull by two joints, temporomandibular (TMJ), just in front of your ears. The part of your skull, which separates your jaw joints from your ear canals, is paper-thin. You can imagine that if these joints are displaced, they could disrupt the inner workings of your ear.
The most common cause of jaw related problems is when the upper and lower teeth do not come together in a way to provide the proper bracing support for the jaw's alignment (craniomandibular relationship) to the skull. Your teeth must come together every time you swallow – over 2000 times each day and night. If your bite causes your jaw to become unstable, muscles must work harder to bring your teeth together. Eventually the chewing muscles tire, shorten and may even go into painful spasms that pull your jaw joints out of alignment.
Stressed, tense muscles and unstable, displaced jaw joints (TMJ) cause problems that often affect your ears.
If you have any of these symptoms, we hope you'll give us a call. We can help determine if a caniomandibular dysfunction is the source of your problem.
Do remember that these symptoms could be signs of a variety of ear related problems. You should also get a thorough examination by an ear, nose and throat physician.
Your health is your most priceless possession! Please contact our office at 201 945-1094 .
Please review Neuromuscular Dentistry page.