TMJ Services Of Brentwood

“There is a place for surgery in treating TMD, but it’s not surgery on the TMJ”  In the 1980’s, just about every Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon was doing surgery on the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) in an attempt to help the thousands of patients who suffered from the symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD).  The textbooks, annual meetings, […]

If the World Health Organization compiled a list of all the diseases on the planet, TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) would undoubtedly be on the list as one, if not the number one, least understood disease.  This would not be because there is a lack of information about the disease. It would not be because there is a lack of scientific studies […]

Through the years I have talked to hundreds of patients with TMD symptoms that were told by orthodontists that the solution for their problem was to straighten their teeth.  The theory behind orthodontic treatment for TMD is as follows.  Malocclusions encourage bruxism.  Bruxism is one of the known causes of joint damage and TMD.  Straight teeth discourage bruxism by removing all the interferences in the bite.  Limiting bruxism limits […]

TMD, (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is a disease that has been misunderstood by the dental and medical communities for decades.  The problem has been created because TMD presents the doctors with a variety of disparate and confusing symptoms.  When a doctor, especially a physician, is faced with a patient who states they have frequent headaches that are also associated with ear pain and tingling of […]

There are two medical conditions (diseases) that have no solution.  Scientists and researchers admit they don’t know what causes migraine headaches and Meniere’s Disease.  These are two very different diseases with very different symptoms.  The only thing they share is that the symptoms of both are in the head.   Migraine headaches are defined as a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurring episodes of moderate-to-severe headache pain. Unlike a typical headache, migraine is […]

Migraine is primarily a clinical diagnosis, meaning doctors identify it by reviewing your symptoms and medical history rather than using a single definitive lab test or scan. Medical professionals use standardized criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) to distinguish migraines from other types of headaches. It is interesting to note that the ICHD-3 does not […]

What would you think about a PCP who told you diabetes was caused by eating too much sugar rather than a problem with the amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas. Or how about an ophthalmologist who told you the need to change your prescription was because you squint too much when you read. What about the dentist who told you that your tooth decay is caused by little worms that get inside the tooth like people […]

The title for this article could also be, “How Much Pain and Disfunction Can a Patient Stand?”  Last Thursday I walked into an examination room to begin a consultation with a 54-year-old female I had never seen before.  After doing over 5000 consultations for patients referred to our practice, you might imagine I have developed a routine out of habit.  I even joke with […]

After doing over 5000 consultations with patients with TMD symptoms one thing is for sure.  Patients are confused about TMD.  Whether patients have had symptoms for 6 weeks or 6 decades, one thing is certain, patients have no idea what is wrong with them, all they can do is describe the symptoms and hope the doctor can figure it out.    Here is an […]

Meniere’s disease is a chronic inner ear disorder that primarily affects hearing and balance. It is characterized by unpredictable “attacks” of severe dizziness and hearing issues that can last from 20 minutes to a full day.  A typical attack usually involves a combination of these four symptoms:   Vertigo: A sudden, intense spinning sensation that often causes […]