Voltage induced TMJ
I daily have aching jaw muscles and then headache...the problem. One of the suspected culprits is a voltage in my mouth..sounds weird..first let me give you the background. Except for this problem I am in very good health & 65 years old. I had a titanium tooth implant done for #19 (bottom left molar). The implant was placed with no problem and 6 months later a porcelain over gold crown was installed. The day after the crown installation, when I started to eat, I noticed jaw ache, both sides of my mouth. That was the first time I noticed such an ache. That was more than 4 months ago and have been suffering since. The implant & crown look and are suppose to be identical to the one done on #30 (right bottom side) earlier. The #30 crown & implant has never given any problem. The problem is often aggravated by chewing BUT NOT CAUSED BY IT! **I can awake in the morning withOUT any problem, and after 30 minutes or a few hours, the problem appears by itself...NOT having eaten or chewed anything. The problem is always relieved by laying down or sleeping. My blood pressure & heart pulse are good. I have no tooth pain or gum inflammation. I can bite down on a toothbrush handle, contacting #19 & #30...with no discomfort or pain. Keeping a baby stainless steel spoon in my mouth....the right front side....seems to relieve the jaw ache by maybe 50%. A plastic spoon did not have the same effect. I had to stop that practice after about 9 days because of possible toxic reaction. I have measured a consistent DC voltage, maybe 50mv, between the tip of my tongue, sitting in its normal position, and the back roof of my mouth..more positive one. Reversing the location of the probes brings the voltage to zero or negative. With the metal spoon in my mouth the voltage disappears...the spoon didn't short out the meter probes. I do NOT clench my teeth. Except for the start date of the problem, I would think the problem is medical, not dental. Per ** bad bite is ruled out, and my dentist observed NO bad bite. Since #30 & #19 are identical, toxicity is ruled out. Two possible culprits I can think of are infection and constant & tiring jaw muscle stimulation by mouth voltage. Because of the jaw ache, tetanus comes to mind...a very mild form of tetanus...probably suppressed because of my otherwise good health. Tetanus is anaerobic...it might have liked the environment under the implant cover. Consequently I took 30 x 150mg Clindamycin capsules over the span of 5 days but it had no effect even after 5 days. My jaw ache reminds me of an overused & tired muscle. It is NOT a spasm and I have NO involuntary bite down reflex upon touching the back of my mouth...2 things which indicate tetanus infection. Perhaps it is some other type of infection. The last tetanus booster shot I received was probably more than 20 years ago. Another possible culprit is an electric field (voltage) has developed in my mouth with the placement of the #19 crown. The crown has metal in it & so does its abutment. I have at least 2 different metals in my mouth...gold and titanium. The electric field could be in such a direction (my bad luck) so as to continually stimulate and tire the jaw muscles. The presence of a metal spoon could alter the direction of the field in such a way that it no longer stimulated the jaw muscles? Any ideas or similar experience? I am contemplating removal of the #19 crown, but not the implant, very reluctantly. 9/4/13 update..I found relief ..but not a cure...is obtained by taking Stinging Nettle herb 300mg every other day..on the other days I take evening primrose or borage oil, which also helps