This medical condition involves the teeth, lower jaw, upper three neck vertebrae, and all the surrounding muscles and nerves.
The major pathway of nerves that control pain signals from the teeth, face, head, and neck to the brain is througth the trigeminal nucleus.
In DSMD, an individual has chronic pain or muscle stiffness caused by these nerve inputs resulting from an imbalance of tooth forces.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms associated with DMSD. The following are the most common.
* Headaches and migraines
* Daily headaches of any type
* Vertigo (dizziness)
* Facial pain
* Tinnitus (ringing or fullness in ears)
* TMJ (jaw joint) disorder
* Pulpitis (sensitive teeth)
* Sleep problems
* Teeth grinding or clenching
* Fractured teeth or grooves at the gumline
* Restricted range of motion of head and/or neck
* Poor posture due to job
* Abnormal tooth wear or a bad bite
Treatment used in sports medicine and rehabilitation is used for people with DMSD.