What can i do if my orthodontic appliance is causing headaches?

Adjustment: You need to see your orthodontist to have it adjusted. A good fitting appliance should not cause any discomfort.

Orthodontist: Tell your orthodontist and try to be specific to him/her on where the pain is originating from in relation to the appliance.

Perhaps adjustment: A well fitted orthodontic appliance (orthopedic too) will cause discomfort initially as it uses some form of force to move the teeth or jaws or both simultaneously. The length of time should be less than a week. All orthodontics is initially discomforting, usually the teeth are sore but a headache is common too. Hang in there!

Talk to your Ortho: Talk with your orthodontist to see what might be the issue. It could the appliance itself or your response to the appliance. Sometimes a minor adjustment is all it takes to gain comfort.

Return to ortho.: The cause of the headaches may or may not be the orthodontic treatment. It is important to return to your orthodontist for advice as soon as possible.

Ask the orthodontist: You must determine the cause of your headache. Is it overloading the tmj's, referred pain, or precipitating a migraine. All have different approaches to treatment.

Coincidence?: Appliance placement and headache may be coincidental, or it may be that your appliance requires adjustment. Ortho appliances will cause tooth, jaw, muscle soreness as they are activated, but rarely headache. Get back to your orthodontist to have your appliances checked. Before you go, take the time to write down all of your symptoms. That will help the orthodontist help you.

Treat the cause: A balance exists between how your teeth fit together, how the joints and muscles work. If your bite is causing muscle pain, you are probably not in the right bite position. You will need to find the best position for your joints and muscles and then be sure that the orthodontic results (bite) coincide in a harmonious relationship.

See provider: Could be the appliance, or exacerbation or revealing an underlying tmd issue. Why ortho now? Younmay need to stop, ortho now, relieve the symptoms, find a comfortable bite again, and then move the teeth to a comfortable position.