Parkinson's Disease Support Group

Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...

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Birdyfeather 02/25/2013

Has anyone heard of the connection between parkinson's and TMJ disorder? Just went to a new dentist, and she thinks that I may have a problem with this because of an overbite. I have had no pain in my jaws, just neck pain and slight headaches. There is a lot of information on the internet about this. Very interesting.

Zlata 02/27/2013

Hi Birdy I think lots of PD people grind their teeth at night when they sleep and their jaw gets tight . So I think that may cause the TM.
Zlatica

suebcreatures 02/28/2013

I asked my neuro dr because I had the same thing. He said it is not from pd.

beekeeper42 03/01/2013

Lordy, Birdy, is there something that PD is definitely NOT related to? Maybe warts. My bruxism (maybe TMJ) predates my Dx of PD by a couple of decades. But they relate now. PD med changes often result in overactive jaw activity until I acclimate to the new med levels. The phenomenon is rare enough that I forget about it until my teeth slam together on some given night. Gets messy and painful if my tongue is in the way. And some soreness the next day.

I have a bite plate... and it works well to counter the bruxism... but it is also a clumsy device, like sleeping with a mouth full of leggos... so most nights I take my chances. But it is nice to have around.

Beekeeper

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