What to do when a nightguard, medications, and a soft diet do not ease your patient’s pain. As most practitioners have come to realize, TMJ problems are common. It has been reported that the overall prevalence of TMJ is approximately 31% for adults and the elderly and 11% for children and adolescents. Some of the most recognizable symptoms include pain, limited jaw … [Read more...] about TMJ Problems – When First-Line Therapies Don’t Work
Rethinking Your Patient’s Pain
I recently read a New York Times article that referenced the work of the late John Sarno, MD, a New York City physician who dedicated his career to one purpose: helping patients recover from back pain. Sarno’s premise was that back pain resulted from suppressed rage, and the expression of pain in the back muscles was a way for the brain to avoid confronting the … [Read more...] about Rethinking Your Patient’s Pain
TMJ & The Pandemic – The Back Story
If you’ve been seeing an increased number of patients with broken or fractured teeth over the past two years, it comes as no surprise. Along with broken and fractured teeth, the pandemic is responsible for a significant increase in the number of patients presenting with aching jaw muscles, sore TMJ joints, headaches, and neck pain. TMD and orofacial pain problems are complex, … [Read more...] about TMJ & The Pandemic – The Back Story
Toothache Pain Beyond The Dental Pulp
Restorative dental practices and dental specialty groups are commonly confronted with familiar patient presentations. The same holds true in my practice, where I focus on orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders. Many of the challenges I face specifically relate to the complaint of toothache pain that does not have origin in the dental pulp. Therefore, the pain … [Read more...] about Toothache Pain Beyond The Dental Pulp
Are Your Patients Asking About Botox Treatment?
Many of you have inquired about whether there is any straightforward and easy-to-understand information about Botox injections that would help your patients decide whether it is a treatment option they should consider for their TMJ/Facial Pain. Therefore, I have put together a few conversation points that should be helpful to discuss with your patients. Botox Works By … [Read more...] about Are Your Patients Asking About Botox Treatment?