This website was created for the purpose of being as informative and helpful as possible. Many of our readers write to us about the fact that they are very skeptical of the relationship between jaw dysfunction and head pain (i.e. migraines, headaches, ear pain, tinnitus, etc.).
How can the jaws cause migraines? How can jaw dysfunction cause neck pain, earaches, headaches, and so many other facial and head pain issues? How can a dentist fix my migraines? That just can’t be true?
Well, we have treated thousands of patients with severe chronic problems and our success rate is nearly 100%.
There is one thing that is clear and certain:
Jaw dysfunction/misalignment and damage to the structures of your jaws is usually the MAIN reason behind your Head Pain! You just need to find the right doctor to help you cure and recover from your pain issues. So, even if you have been suffering with migraines for over 20 years, you will be happy to know that the future of headache treatment is here now and YOU can find a cure for your problem… with guaranteed results! We receive hundreds of inquiries, every week, for specific answers to individual problems. Most of the answers to these questions can be found on our website and on our treatment video. Please go back and take the time to read through the website. Although we would like to be able to respond to individual inquiries, we cannot properly evaluate specific concerns without performing thorough in-office examinations. Also, due to legal reasons, we do not render medical or dental advice to our readers without proper evaluations.
Our clinic is located in Michigan, but for our nationwide/international readers, we have the following advice:
Watch all of the videos on this site and on our YouTube page.
If you still have some questions here is some additional advice:
Visit the AACFP.ORG website https://www.aacfp.org/
This organization has a list of specialists who treat patients with problems involving TMJ, headaches, facial pain, etc. You may be able to locate a specialist close to your home that can answer your questions. Use the information on our video and this website to know whether you are getting the right care.
Interview the doctors that you find.
Many dentists claim to know the answers, yet few can provide the proper treatment. The most important aspect of successful treatment is a proper diagnosis. The specialist you find must be skilled at functional orthodontics as well as prosthodontics. He/she must be able to align your teeth and jaws using braces, appliances, or crowns/bridges/implants. This requires an immense amount of skill and knowledge. Don’t be surprised to learn that there are only a handful of such specialists! Our experience indicates that there are less than a few hundred such doctors available nationwide… but you can find them with the info we have provided for you on this website and on our video.
Your future specialist must also work closely with a team of doctors, including ENTs, neurologists, sleep specialists, physical medicine, therapists, chiropractors, etc. for optimal care.
Once you find a skilled specialist he/she can alleviate your pain and return you to a normal life. It is hard for most people to believe that a few select dentists are leading the way into head pain treatments (including migraines), but it is the future — today! Although a complete medical and neurological assessment is critical to proper diagnosis, most medical treatments aimed at curing head pain are not successful. It is somewhat hard to understand why physicians cannot help headache sufferers, and skepticism is not unusual for patients who do not understand how specialized dentists can cure headaches and facial pain. If you have reviewed the information on this website you will find the answers to your dilemma.
You must also realize that treating your pain problems with medications is NOT correct treatment.
Most medications prescribed for head pain simply hide and mask the underlying problem by trying to fool you into believing that there is nothing wrong. Doctors prescribe these medications due to a lack of proper understanding of what is causing the pain. If a doctor prescribes medication for you without telling you specifically what is causing the pain, why would you trust such treatment? It is lack of knowledge that causes such inadequate treatment to be performed by a large number of doctors. From our experience, treatments with medications (such as Imitrex, Maxalt, narcotics, pain relievers, and other agents) are usually not beneficial and can cause more long term problems. Muscle relaxants can help during treatment, but only if used temporarily. Just say NO to drugs!
Previous treatment could be the cause.
Many of the questions that we receive also come from patients who have had previous treatments for TMJ or Headaches by specialists who claim to be able to cure these problems. Usually, these inquiries include concerns about the fact that previous treatments, bite appliances and braces did not help their problem. If you have received previous bite appliance treatments and your pain has not subsided, then we would advise you to have a second opinion regarding the adequacy of your treatment. The majority of the appliances that we evaluate lack efficacy. Some appliances can actually worsen your pain, if not constructed properly. Most of them are also fitted incorrectly. That is why we advise all of our readers to find a skilled specialist who can properly diagnose pain and implement effective treatment. Likewise, a lot of orthodontic or prosthodontic reconstructive treatment can actually cause more pain, if not performed judiciously.
Thinking about visiting our practice in Michigan?
We have many out-of-state patients who travel to Michigan for treatment. Although Detroit is not San Diego, you may find that your next vacation is the best one you’ll ever take! Should you choose to seek treatment at our office please follow these guidelines.
Metropolitan Detroit Airport offers excellent world-class service. Local hotels vary from budget to high-end. We recommend that you stay close to our office in Walled Lake or in nearby cities such as Novi, Northville, Livonia, West Bloomfield, Commerce, or Farmington Hills. There are numerous accommodations at reasonable rates to choose from. Please check with websites such as Expedia.com or Hotels.com for more travel arrangements.
There are a few diagnostic tests that you should be able to complete in your hometown that will save you a few visits and a lot of preliminary work. Before you make reservations to visit our Michigan based office, please complete the following tests:
- CT Scan. We recommend that you have your local family physician write a prescription for a TMJ CT Scan (performed in the closed position: this means that you must bite down on your back teeth when doing the scan.) Ask your physician to document head pain or unspecified headaches as your diagnosis (medical code R51.9) If your TMJ has symptoms of pain or popping and clicking, then that diagnosis can also be added on your form (medical code M26.603.)
- A complete neurological assessment. We do recommend that a complete neurological examination is performed by a neurologist. We want to make sure that there are no abnormal problems such as brain tumors, stroke, or neurological deficits. A neurologist will normally order a brain MRI.
- Complete the detailed health history and questionnaire from the link that will be emailed to you by our office once you are ready.
To minimize the number of visits required for you treatment, we must also receive the following:
- Study casts of your teeth with a wax bite record of your normal bite. Your dentist can do this for you for under $100. Digital records are the best option as they can be emailed to us by your dentist.
- Dental x-rays of all your teeth (full mouth.)
- Panoramic X-Ray.
- All your previous medical records, including x-rays and lab results (include summaries and physician dictations.)
- A physical medicine evaluation, especially with a complete postural analysis.
- Any previous orthodontic records.
- Consultation fee of $275, paid via credit card or money order only.
It is somewhat hard to understand why neurologists and physicians cannot help headache sufferers, and skepticism is not unusual for patients who do not understand how a dentist can cure headaches and facial pain. Stick to our plan and you’ll soon understand why a trip to our office will change your life for the better!
Many readers also want to know the cost of treatment before they arrive at our office. Although it is impossible for us to quote any prices without proper diagnosis, we can tell you that prices for such treatments start at approximately $475 and can range above $3000. Some patients can benefit from a simple device, such as an NTI deprogrammer, while other patients may incur an average cost of $2500 for the first phase of treatment. The initial phase of treatment is aimed at eliminating your pain symptoms and can take as long as 8 months.
We cannot estimate insurance coverage, but we will do everything possible to provide you with all the documentation required for you to submit directly to them for any reimbursement options. Most medical carriers will reimburse you for this treatment, especially if you have a history of documentation related to your problem. Your family physician can also help you with the reimbursement. Our treatments are strictly cash basis; therefore it is your responsibility to seek the reimbursement. Most of the patients that we see have already spent tens of thousands of dollars trying to get help. Our costs are negligible compared to the money spent on traditional, failed treatments.
Another common concern for most out-of-state patients is “how many times do I have to come back for visits?” We try to do as much as possible during your first visit, especially if you can complete all the above requirements. We ask that you stay for a minimum of 3 days so that we can complete as much as possible during your first visit. We do recommend that you return for at least 2 follow-up visits within an 8-month period. Most patients like to visit us just because we become their best friends and only real hope that they’ve had for many years.
If you need any more information, please email us or call our office to arrange your first visit 248-646-1642. Sorry, we can only take telephone consultations from patients who have completed the above requirements.
It Is The Mission Statement Of Our Practice To Cure Migraines And Head Pain Forever… Without Drugs!
If you are a practicing TMJ specialist, visiting our website, and you would like to learn more about our treatment therapies, feel free to contact or visit us. We want to help you be able to help your patients. We are here to help patients and specialists.