Is this familiar? You think your child is fast asleep, then suddenly, a screeching sound is coming out of his/her bedroom. What could be causing it? The most likely explanation is your child is grinding his teeth – an activity clinically known as sleep bruxism. Sleep bruxism, which is often associated with jaw pain (TMJ), is the most common problem seen in my practice for … [Read more...] about Your Child Is Grinding His Teeth – What Should You Do?
Invisalign® & Aligner Therapy Can Trigger Jaw Problems
Today, in nearly every field of medicine, new and innovative therapies emerge that change lives for the better. But, over time, however, unanticipated complications can arise. Aligner therapy to move teeth (dominated by the brand Invisalign ®) is one such innovation. It turns out aligner therapy can trigger jaw problems. Invisalign® & Aligner Therapy Move Teeth In … [Read more...] about Invisalign® & Aligner Therapy Can Trigger Jaw Problems
The Connection Between PTSD & TMJ
Identifying the origin of a patient’s chronic orofacial and TMJ pain is what makes my work both challenging and rewarding. Sometimes the answers are readily apparent while at other times uncovering important clues is more difficult. In all cases, there is no substitute for obtaining a careful history as the insights gained often help point to the mechanism of pain that is … [Read more...] about The Connection Between PTSD & TMJ
Facial Pain – Is It Bruxism or Is It Bulimia?
TMJ /Facial Pain Symptoms & Eating Disorders – The Connection As a TMJ doctor, every year I see a number of patients who are suffering from an extraordinarily high level of face and jaw pain. At first glance, the level of suffering they report is much greater than what I commonly see. One such group are people with a history of one particular eating disorder - bulimia … [Read more...] about Facial Pain – Is It Bruxism or Is It Bulimia?
Pain & The Brain – They’re Inseparable
As a doctor whose focus is on people who suffer from facial pain and the pain symptoms associated with Temporomandibular Disorders (commonly referred to as TMJ), I think about pain, a lot. A great deal of new scientific knowledge has been gained in my field in the past several years. Being familiar with this knowledge is an essential part of how I make difficult decisions … [Read more...] about Pain & The Brain – They’re Inseparable