Trigeminal Neuralgia (Ep 7) of Open UP: A TMJ Discussion

In this Episode:
• Pam shares story about a patient with Trigeminal Neuralgia which is an extremely painful condition, one that TMD can make worse and vice versa.
• If you have had problems with Trigeminal Neuralgia, this is an interesting Podcast!
• Pam discusses different treatments patient encountered over the years; the ones that did work and didn’t work.
• On top of medical issues, the patient had braces with four bicuspid extractions which in our experience can create a deficient maxilla which can compress the condyle, airway, and the Trigeminal Nerve.
• Pam treated her with a neuromuscular orthotic with a year of success meaning little to no pain.
• The patient, in her late 30’s, was tired of the orthotic and wanted options.
• Both the patient and Pam decided on orthodontics after careful consideration since both Pam and the patient knew where the upper and lower jaw/teeth relationship needed to be. The orthotic would direct and drive the case.
• The case is now over seven years old. Patient infrequently needs a minor adjustment on teeth, neck or hips, but no more pain to speak of. Summary is a very appreciative patient and a very satisfied treating doctor.
• The topic turns to having a correct differential diagnosis, no matter who is doing the treatment. If a medical doctor does not know how to diagnose TMD, they diagnose the wrong treatment.
• Trigeminal Neuralgia, migraines, cluster headaches, and some tumors, mimic TMD pain. It is critically important that all health care professionals who treat these conditions know how to do a differential diagnosis.
• The big question in this podcast was, if no medical doctors, and few dentists have been trained in the proper diagnosis of TMD, how can there ever be a differential diagnosis. Yes, we are Opening Up the real concerns facing the pain patient.
• The bite can irritate and put pressure on the Trigeminal Nerve which creates pain in the face.
• Biopsychosocial is discussed and how important it is in a differential diagnosis.
• TN surgery is discussed with the problem of returning pain.
• Both Pam and Mac are calling for everyone in the medical community to know/learn about the mouth and TMD. The conversation gets quite emotional because of the frustration of the medical and dental community not working together.
• Another example is MD’s diagnosing a joint image as arthritis when in fact the bone defect is due to bone compression. Mac fires Pam up on how frustrating it is for all.
• Joint anatomy is discussed in a very easy to understand examples. Pam is even more fired up!!!!!
• Clicking joints discussed again because a clicking joint is a compressed joint.
• Mac surprises Pam with an analogy of why joints click.
• There are more variables in TMD and facial pain as stars in the sky.
• Neuromuscular dentists look at the whole body because everything is connected.
• There is no overall training of TMD in dental school.
Important Links:
Website TMD Link: marzbandds.com/tmj/
Dr. Pamela Marzban's book on Craniofacial Development: www.amazon.com/Craniofacial-D...
Treatment of adult TMJ starts with a highly trained Neuromuscular dentist as described in Dr. Mac Lee's book: www.amazon.com/Life-Robbing-P...