Before you start any form of treatment, you need to be sure you are being treated for the right condition. If you are experiencing regular headaches or other symptoms that you suspect could be a migraine, it is important to see a doctor to receive a proper diagnosis. At Today’s Headache Institute, we are proud to offer a wide array of headache, migraine, facial, and TMJ pain diagnostic technology.
CT Scans
CT/3D Imaging technology can provide the most diagnostic information for head pain patients. CT scans are now available at our Michigan based office and can be read and evaluated within minutes so that you can have a complete diagnosis. MRI studies are also highly effective in diagnosing these problems so long as the technicians know how to position your jaws. Many MRI centers do not know how to complete a proper TMJ MRI study and therefore you must be careful about which center is performing this type of scan.
2D & Transcranial X-Rays
2D and Transcranial X-Rays are used to inspect the position of the jaw bone in relation to the skull however they have only minimal diagnostic capabilities. If the jaw bone is out of alignment with the skull then pain sets in. Normally these x-rays are used to pinpoint the space between the top of the jaw bone (condyle) and underside of the skull bone (glenoid fossa) where the fibrocartilage disc is located. This protective disc (pseudo-ligament) cushions the head of the condyle like a shock absorber and protects the skull and brain tissue from unnecessary pounding of the jaw. If the spacing between the head of the condyle and the skull bone is less than 3 mm, this is indication that the protective disc is either thinning down or dislocated. Most migraine patients have less than 1 mm of space! These same patients present with no clinical symptoms of any joint problems! These X-Rays can provide some minimal diagnosis.
Panorex X-Ray
Panorex is one of the most common x-rays used by dentists and oral surgeons in everyday practice. Alone, it cannot detect any jaw or joint problems or headache issues! Too many dentists and surgeons use this x-ray to try to diagnose TMJ and headache problems. A Panorex is mainly used to look at the structures of the jaws, neck, and head. It is a screening tool that we use to make sure that there are no abnormalities. We also use this x-ray to help determine if the Coronoid Process is enlarged. This is the bone in the middle of the jaw that extends up into the middle of the face. In many headache patients, especially the ones who grind their teeth, we notice an enlarged coronoid. Abnormal growth or enlargement of this bone causes sharp pain into the face region due to the fact that this bone starts to “knife” through the muscles.
Proper diagnosis is the first step to living a more comfortable lifestyle. To learn more about how we diagnose migraines, contact Today’s Headache Institute today. Solve your pain in 6-8 months or we’ll give you your money back.