Of all the painful conditions you might expect a dentist to treat, shoulder pain is probably the least likely to come to mind. Your LVI Global trained dentist at Village Park, including family, orthodontics and wellness dentistry, can help you find relief for pain in your neck and shoulder, when it’s related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome.
How Can TMJ Cause Shoulder Pain?
While the issues caused by TMJ begin in the jaw, symptoms can manifest in a number of surprising and painful ways. Headaches or migraines, ear, facial and tooth pain make sense when your temporomandibular joint is affected, but problems with your jaw can also cause neck, back and shoulder pain.
Continual stress in your jaw can cause pain to radiate through your body, causing your shoulders to tense in compensation. The end result can be shoulder pain and other difficulties, all because of jaw dysfunction.
Other symptoms of TMJ include ringing in the ears, vision problems, tingling or numbness in the fingers, sensitive or loose teeth, difficulty chewing and limited jaw movement. It can also cause clicking, popping and cracking sounds in the jaw, particularly when you open and close your mouth.
How Does a Dentist Treat Shoulder Pain?
The key to alleviating shoulder pain related to TMJ is to treat the underlying condition, which is where a specially trained dentist can make all the difference.
At Village Park, our LVI Global trained dental professionals are experts in treating conditions like TMJ. Together, we can help you find treatment solutions that address the root of the issue, potentially alleviating pain throughout your body, related to TMJ.