An earache is one of the most common maladies amongst people, young and old. Many times, an earache is initially treated with antibiotics, if an ear infection is suspected. But what happens when there is no sign of an ear infection, antibiotics are not doing any good, and there seems to be no one to turn to for help? Here is an idea that is crazy enough that it might make sense: go see a dentist.

A dentist for an earache? Many people may not realize how close to the mouth the ear really is. Think about it. The mouth extends as far as the ends of the jawbones which, incidentally, join together fairly close to the ear. And, sometimes things that should fit together well dont, causing pain. Often when there is pain, there is inflammation and swelling. Sometimes the pain is so strong that it becomes difficult to pinpoint exactly where the pain is coming from. This can be exactly the case in people who suffer from something called TMJ.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, or TMJ, is the diagnosis for chronic or acute inflammation and pain in the temporomadibular joint, which connects the lower jawbone to the skull. Not only are the teeth, jawbones, and ligaments affected, but tendons, muscles, and nerves also fall prey to this oral beast. With so many different components being targeted by TMJ (including the ear), a specialist may need to be called upon to help simmer down the symptoms. This oral guru is none other than the neuromuscular dentist.

This dentist is, in a nutshell, a specialist who can treat symptoms of TMJ by correctly re aligning the jawbones. Neuromuscular dentistry is the practice of also correcting bad bites, such as overbites and underbites. General dentists treat the gums, teeth, and bones, while this specialized dentist works his magic on soft and hard connective tissues, nerves, and muscles. To correct a misaligned jawbone or bad bite that may be the cause of TMJ, the dentist first takes a measurement of the head and neck when they are relaxed to determine the best position for the jaw.

Re positioning the jaw can then be achieved by orthotics or orthodontics to restore teeth to their correct positions, relieving the jaw of all of the stress caused by these bad bites. And, it just makes sense that happy teeth in a happy jaw make happy ears, so that is why you should call your dentist if your ear hurts.