TN and excessive dental clinching

[cityman777]

Is it possible that prolonged clinching of your teeth can lead to Trigeminal Neuralgia and if this is the case would removing the teeth resolve anything? Is there a nerve that can be affected if compressing your teeth over the years pushing it up into the nasal cavity to a small degree. Mouth guards are only effective with grinding, so this was not a solution because pressure was still occuring between the dental teeth. I' ve been to the dentist on many occassion and they don't know much other than what's shown on the Xray. I presently on Tegretal and hoping for some treatment to resolve my problem.

[TN_Shingles_3years_now]

PS: Teaching hospital and universities will often provide free to low cost care.  ALSO if the TN is causing a flare up of the TMJ, or if the TMJ causes the TBN to flare up, then I would think a smart MD could charge this as MEDICAL for TN related issues and not TMJ.  

[TN_Shingles_3years_now]

Hi ,

I just went to see a TN-Dentist.... at Tufts Dental School ( Crainial Facial Pain /dental dept) and what an amazing visit!.   I asked many questions and they were extreamly helpful.   If you have a DENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM at a University near you .. try calling them for an evaluation.  

SO OK What I learned is that it is NOT usuall for TN to be caused from your TEETH but the other way around that your TN can make dental issues worce.  

1.  MY local DMD, took x-rays and filled a small "cavity" but the pain JAW continued and caused a major flare up of the TN pain.
2.  At TUFTS, they did a panaramic X-ray ( full mouth)  im mediately even I could see where the issue is...   deep in the lower jaw, under the three teeth I complain about is an area that shows signs of infection!      There is also a smaller infected area in the upper jaw just above these teeth.!  
3.   SO YES BITTING down on this area can and does cause pain, which then can trigger the TN PAIN,

4. note the bad teeth  is NOTE THE CAUSE OF THE TN, just aggrvates it

The MD, DMD, PHD (yeap he was all that!)  also suggested that I have sedation dental work for all dental issues  to help with some of the pain.   Sort story, is that they have new drugs that can help with the residuial pain and may even stop a TN attack before it happens.

He also asked me to call another Neurologist at Mass General, as there has been great research on TN in the past few years and there are many treatment options, one being ointment rather than pills of the smae meds. ( the ointment has less side affects!)  

So as with the Dental program also check to see if a TEACHING UNIVERSITY/HOSPITAL near you has a department that  can give you a current evaluation of your TN issues and maybe even a treatment plan that has some hope.

Good luck

[missyndrome]

I have wondered the same thing?  I've gone to my regular dentist on several occassions to have my teeth checked  and they couldn't find a problem. in fact I went yesterday because my teeth and around my mouth  hurt so bad.  Same story- they took xrays and checked them and was told it had to be from the nerve problem. I went to a TMJ specialist about 7 years ago and found out I had arthritic jaw joints and was fitted with a mouth guard that I would go in every once in a while for adjustment on it. It really seemed to help the TMJ but unfortunately I lost the splint a couple yrs ago and haven't gone back.  I know my jaws are messed up because I hear the left one clicking when I chew. It's just coming up with the money to start over since my ins. won't cover it.