The Dentist is a vital and integral part of the fibromyalgia/myofascial pain team. Preventative care can be a big reason that certain invasive treatments/procedures can be avoided.
Your dentist should be aware of your health situation, so that all information is considered. A patient may have various muscles constricted by MPS triggerpoints in such a manner as to change occlusion forcing mandible to close unnaturally.
Teeth clenching is a default mechanism of the brain. When it doesn't know what to do in response to mixed or erratic signals, it may clench. It is a sort of twiddling of the cranial thumbs. Weird. Symptoms include problems swallowing, chewing pain, jaw clicking, sinusitis pain, drooling during sleep ..... Most people that I know that suffer from fibro also suffer from TMJ, temporomandibular joint. It can go with the territory. Most people with autoimmune diseases suffer from anxiety et al. There is no part of the body that is really not affected.
A friend of mine's sister has always suffered from fibromyalgia in her face. That is in fact where hers started. One cause of prickling "electric" face pain over the jaw is from compression of the buccal nerve by the two parts of the lateral pterygoid muscle in chronic bruxers. Many years back I was having chronic headaches, and had had them forever. The Ear Nose & Throat doctor fitted me with a mouth guard, and the headaches immediately went away. But not before that I had cracked some crowns due to clenching.
When having routine dental check ups/cleanings, I always have to ask the dentist for frequent breaks to rest my jaw. He is great to work with me! Some people have to take anti anxiety medication before a dental appointment. You do what you have to do!!!
From Me to U!
Hope you are continuing to nurture yourself, especially during these extra anxious times of COVID.
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