TMJ Headaches
& Migraines
Chronic headaches that won’t respond to medication? Your jaw may be the cause. Dr. Vartanian diagnoses and treats TMJ-related headaches and migraines at their source in Newport Beach.
Your Headaches May Start
in Your Jaw
Millions of people suffer from chronic headaches and migraines without realizing their jaw is the cause. When you clench or grind your teeth — often unconsciously during sleep or stress — the muscles of your jaw, temples, and face remain under constant tension. This sustained muscle strain produces headaches that mimic tension headaches and migraines.
These TMJ headaches are frequently misdiagnosed. Patients cycle through neurologists, pain management clinics, and medication regimens without relief — because no one examines the jaw. Dr. Vartanian has seen this pattern countless times, and for many patients, identifying TMJ as the source is the breakthrough that finally resolves years of suffering.
Treatment targets the root cause: jaw clenching. Custom splint therapy reduces nighttime clenching forces, while therapeutic Botox directly relaxes the overactive muscles generating the tension. Many patients experience dramatic headache reduction within the first weeks of treatment.
If you’ve tried everything for your headaches and nothing has worked, your jaw may be the missing piece.
Signs You Need Help
- Tension headaches upon waking
- Headaches that worsen through the day
- Pain in the temples, forehead, or behind the eyes
- Migraines triggered by jaw tension or stress
- Headaches accompanied by jaw pain or stiffness
- Pain radiating from the jaw to the head and neck
- Headaches that don’t respond to typical medication
- Facial pain combined with headache symptoms