How recurring dizziness and dental pain changed over two Bowen sessions
When this client first came to see me, she was experiencing ongoing jaw pain following a tooth extraction, together with recurring bouts of dizziness.
A broken tooth had been removed from the right side of her jaw three weeks earlier. The area had developed dry socket and was taking a long time to heal, leaving her with continued dental pain.
The dizziness had been present for much longer. Although it did not stop her from doing things, it would occasionally become strong enough that she needed to sit down. This had happened while she was using the treadmill at the gym, forcing her to stop exercising until the sensation passed.
Her GP had referred her for an MRI scan. Reassuringly, nothing of concern had been found, but no clear cause for the dizziness had been identified. It had been suggested that it might be related to stress.
Exploring a possible connection
During the initial consultation, we discussed both the dizziness and the recent dental treatment.
Having dental work can involve keeping the mouth open and the head in a fixed position for some time. This may place additional strain on the jaw, neck and surrounding muscles, including the sternocleidomastoid muscles at the sides of the neck.
These muscles help to move and stabilise the head and work closely with the jaw and the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. Tension in this area can sometimes be associated with referred sensations around the head and ears, including feelings of dizziness.
This gave us a useful area to consider during the Bowen sessions.
The starting markers
At the beginning of the case study, we recorded two main concerns:
> Ongoing dental pain following the extraction of a tooth from the right side of the jaw, with the area still not healed after three weeks.
> Regular bouts of dizziness which sometimes made the client stop what she was doing and sit down.
The first Bowen session
The first session included the basic Bowen relaxation procedures, using gentle rolling movements over carefully selected areas of the body.
I also included the pelvic and TMJ procedures, working with the client’s overall alignment as well as the tension around her jaw, head and neck.
During the session, the client noticed tender areas in several parts of her body, particularly around her left shoulder.
The second Bowen session
When the client returned for her second appointment, she reported that the dental pain on the right side had eased considerably. The extraction site, which had previously been slow to heal, had now healed completely.
She was due to have another tooth removed, this time from the left side of her jaw.
The second Bowen session again included the basic relaxation procedures, together with the pelvic and TMJ work.
The outcome after two sessions
The following week the client had some very positive changes to report.
The dizziness she had experienced for a long time had completely gone. She was no longer having the episodes that had previously made her stop exercising or sit down.
The dental pain on the right side had also gone completely.
Since her previous Bowen session, she had undergone the second tooth extraction on the left side of her jaw. This time, the area was not sore and was healing nicely.
Bowen Technique for jaw pain and dizziness
This client originally came for Bowen while experiencing persistent dental pain following dry socket and recurring unexplained dizziness.
Over the course of two Bowen sessions, we used a gentle whole-body approach which included the basic relaxation, pelvic and TMJ procedures.
After her second session, she reported:
> The dizziness had completely stopped.
> The dental pain on the right side had completely gone.
> The original extraction site had healed.
> Her more recent extraction on the left side was not sore and was healing well.
This was a particularly encouraging outcome because the dizziness had been present for a long time and had sometimes interrupted activities.
Bowen Technique is a gentle form of bodywork that considers how different areas of the body may be working together. Sessions can include work around the TMJ, neck, shoulders, pelvis and other areas involved in a person’s individual pattern of pain or tension.
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