Orofacial pain is a common symptom with two main causes – dental pain and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Headache is also a common symptom and according to the WebMD Health & Wellness Center, 45 million Americans experience chronic headaches, and of them, 28 million suffer from migraines. Both orofacial pain and headache are prevalent in patients with TMD and should be properly diagnosed by a board certified specialist. Dr. Stan Farrell, who is a Diplomate with the American Board of Orofacial Pain as well as a member of the American Headache Society, is one of the best choices for your temporomandibular joint disorder treatment. Dr. Stan Farrell also uses the most effective methods of treatment and works diligently to erase the pain caused by TMD in the lives of his patients. If you suffer from headaches, TMD, and or orofacial pain, please schedule an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Stan Farrell at 480-945-3629 or visit us online at www.headpaininstitute.com for more information.
Bender SD. North Texas Center for Head, Face & TMJ Pain, 5068 W Plano Pkwy. Ste. 100, Plano, TX, 75093, USA.
Abstract: Headache and facial pain – in particular, temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) – are very prevalent conditions in the general population. TMDs are defined as a collection of symptoms and signs involving masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), or both. The pain reported by TMD patients is typically located in the muscles of mastication, in the preauricular area, or in the TMJs. In many cases, headaches and facial pain will occur in the same patient. Much of the research relative to the relationship of these disorders focuses on statistics of association and prevalence data. This review will provide a brief description of the types and classifications of orofacial pains (OFPs), as well as point to relevant research describing the commonalities and potential comorbid nature of these maladies. Finally, several recent papers describing morphologic changes to the brain in headache and TMD individuals will be discussed in an effort to stimulate further research into the potential common pathophysiologic mechanism that may explain the comorbid nature of these disorders.
