FACIAL PAIN
Q: Could my facial pain be related to a dental problem?
A: Some 15 percent of American adults experience chronic facial pain, according to the American Dental Association. The affliction can range from severe pain around and in the jaw and ear, to moderate pain and clicking and popping noises when opening the mouth to speak or chew. The pain can radiate into a general, dull ache in the head and neck.
A dental problem could certainly be at the root. For instance, an infection in a tooth, or in the sinus or gums, could lead to facial pain. It could also come from a malfunction in the temporal mandibular joint (TMJ), which is just in front of the ears. Your dentist will most likely be able to identify the cause of the problem through an examination that might include x-rays.
Treatment, depending on the diagnosis, could be something as simple as stress-reduction exercises or muscle-relaxing medication. Some cases have been alleviated by wearing a mouth guard at night to prevent teeth-grinding, a condition called bruxism. Talk with your dentist for more information on the problem of facial pain.
If you, your family, or friends need dental care, we would be honored to provide you with state-of-the-art dental care in our modern dental practice. Refer someone you love to someone you trust!
Presented as a service to the community by Doctors Hoover and Yanda,
39 Milford Drive, Hudson, Ohio 44236. 330-650-0360.