Can Jaw Surgery Help with Headaches?
Chronic headaches can be related to jaw problems. Here is how orthognathic surgery may help.
Yes β for some patients, jaw surgery can reduce or eliminate chronic headaches that are related to jaw misalignment and muscle tension.
- How jaw problems cause headaches:
- A misaligned jaw forces the muscles to work harder to close the bite
- This chronic muscle tension can cause tension headaches
- TMJ dysfunction can refer pain to the temples and forehead
- Clenching or grinding (bruxism) worsens with a bad bite
- Sleep apnea (often jaw-related) causes morning headaches
- How surgery helps:
- Corrects the bite, reducing muscle strain
- Allows the jaw muscles to relax into their natural position
- Reduces clenching and grinding
- Improves sleep (reduces sleep apnea headaches)
- Takes the pressure off the TMJ
- What the evidence shows:
- 40β60% of patients with pre-existing headaches report improvement after jaw surgery
- Headaches related to muscle tension respond best
- Headaches from other causes (migraine, sinus, etc.) may not improve
When to Consider It
If you have chronic headaches and ALSO have signs of jaw misalignment (difficulty chewing, jaw pain, bite problems), treating the underlying jaw issue with surgery may provide headache relief.
Clinical Guidance
Jaw surgery can reduce chronic headaches caused by muscle tension from a misaligned bite. Not all headaches are jaw-related, but if you have both headaches and a bad bite, correcting the jaw position may provide lasting relief.