Does It Work? Despite the press advocating Botox for TMJ pain problems, my clinical experience using it over the past 15 years suggests that it represents another supportive treatment at best and may not live up to the hype over the long term. To start the discussion let's focus on who is even a candidate for Botox, a chemical agent that can be used to partially reduce … [Read more...] about Botox For TMJ Pain
Dr. Tanenbaum
Lingering Toothache, What’s The Next Step?
For most patients who experience a toothache, a visit to the dentist usually leads to a clear-cut direction of care and a predictable resolution of pain. The answer may be a simple repair, placement of a restoration, or may require root canal therapy (if the pulp is compromised by inflammation or infection). Pain relief with root canal therapy is often achieved after the first … [Read more...] about Lingering Toothache, What’s The Next Step?
Migraine Headaches & TMJ: The Connection
For years, patients have come to my office with acute and longstanding TMJ problems and report that they have suffered with migraine headaches as well. These problems have in fact been labeled with the term “comorbid,” representing two or more medical conditions existing simultaneously regardless of their causal relationship. As a result of these patients’ jaw symptoms, … [Read more...] about Migraine Headaches & TMJ: The Connection
Can A Mattress Cause TMJ?
Is there a connection between your choice of a mattress and TMJ problems? While there aren't a lot of studies that probe the relationship between one's choice of a mattress and TMJ pain, it's fair to speculate that choices that prompt more restful and predictably sound sleep are obviously advantageous. With regard to choosing a mattress, there are a number of options … [Read more...] about Can A Mattress Cause TMJ?
Facial Pain and TMD: A Persistent Domestic Stress Disorder?
Three patient visits in the past week alone made me think that it may be time to consider formulating a new diagnostic term to categorize the countless people that I see who are suffering with facial and jaw pain but who have no history of disease, identifiable injury, or illness. I am therefore proposing a new term: Persistent Domestic Stress Disorder (PDSD), modeled after … [Read more...] about Facial Pain and TMD: A Persistent Domestic Stress Disorder?
