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FAQ: Jaw Pain

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Jaw Pain Ask The Dentist Corinne Scalzitti

Question:
Jaw pain - electric shock in ear: 5 weeks ago I started having shooting pains in my right ear.

I thought it might be an ear infection until about 3 weeks ago when the pain spread to under my ear and jaw. 10 days ago I went to see a doctor and he suggested it might be TMJ syndrome and prescribed Lortabs and Etodolac.

Since then the pain has gotten worse and now I have muscle aches and pains all over my body. I have lost a lot of sleep and my patience is wearing thin. My jaw does not hurt when I open or close my mouth, nor does it hurt when I am chewing.

When I do eat it, the first bite of food feels like an electrical shock in directly in front of my ear. It is excruciatingly painful, although it only lasts for about 5 seconds. ...Visitor from TX

Answer:
I agree with the doctor who thinks this is TMJ syndrome.

I usually try prescribing a low dose of valium (2 mg) a night for 14 days to decrease muscle spasms. I also get the patient in some kind of night guard to decrease grinding at night which is almost always a causitive factor in TMJ dysfunction.

It sounds like you need to see a dentist who treats TMJ or a neuromuscular dentist.

Many good neuromuscular dentist are trained at the Las Vegas Institute for Continuing Dental Education (LVI). You can find an LVI trained dentist at www.neuromuscular--dentist.com.

Be sure to look for somebody who has participated in many courses, not just one or two.

Corinne Scalzitti, DMD, MAGD
Austin Reconstructive Implant Dentistry
3900 RR 620 South
Austin, Texas TX 78738
(512) 263-3330

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