AboutSteven C. Scherr, D.D.S. Expertise My expertise is in the areas of TMJ Dysfunction, Tension Headaches and Occluso-muscle Disorders. I am a dentist with 19 years of experience, including hospital residency (Sinai Hospital of Baltimore), and training at the L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Currently in private TMJ Dysfunction and Comprehensive Rehabilitative Practice near Baltimore, Maryland.
Experience I was the Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland Dental School in 1981. I served as a General Practice Resident at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 1981-82, and have been in private practice since that time. My practice is now located in Owings Mills, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. My studies at the L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education in Florida has enriched my practice and my patients. It was there that I learned the true meaning of caring and excellence.
Question Alright, about 5 days ago I began experiencing pressure or fullness in my head. It is accompanied by sudden pains in the forehead and sometimes temple. I have experience slight dizziness at times and can't seem to put a finger on my condition. Activities such as bending over does somewhat affect the pain and pressures. Please help me shed some light on this situation.
Answer Nelson,
I am sorry to hear that you are in pain. Headache pain can have a number of different causes. It can be associated with dental problems, jaw joint dysfunction, jaw muscle cramps (tension headache), migraine (neurovascular pain), temporal arteritis (vascular pain), neurologic conditions (neuralgia), sinus problems, and rarely, tumors.
Sinus infections and congestion can affect balance and are often exasperated by sudden changes in body position. You might want to consider having your physician or an otolaryngologist (ENT) check this out. Another possibility is tension headache. Tension headache is most often associated with dysfunction of the jaw joints (TMJs), cramps in the jaw muscles, or both. It is often exasperated by periods of stress. Should your ears and sinuses be found to be clear, the next step would be to see a dentist with advanced training in facial pain and TMJ disorders.
