Fortunately for those of us who have experienced a toothache, relief typically follows a visit to the dentist for a filling, a crown, or root canal therapy. But when you have a lingering toothache that won’t go away, although your tooth and its associated nerve appear sound and healthy based on an examination and x-rays – believe it or not, it may be due to a sprained ligament. To understand how a lingering toothache can be the result of a sprained ligament, here’s what you need to know: How A Sprained Periodontal Ligament Can Cause A Lingering Toothache       &n ..read more

As a board-certified orofacial pain specialist in NYC and Long Island, I’ve used Botox® for TMJ treatment for over fifteen years. If jaw problems greet you upon waking up in the morning, limit your food choices, prompt you to take pain medications like Advil®, Aleve®, or Tylenol® on a routine basis, and have had a negative impact on your life, Botox® injections may be something for you to consider. 7 Common Questions About Botox® For TMJ Treatment Botox® for TMJ treatment is a subject around which there is a considerable amount of confusion. To make the best decision for yourself, you should ..read more

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 muscle contracture. Since most of the commonly seen TMJ problems are orthopedic in nature, patients typically experience muscle and joint pain, limited jaw motion, difficulty chewing, and at times joint clicking, popping and lo ..read more

When exercises, medication, nightguards, relaxation techniques, and a soft diet don’t provide relief from TMJ pain, injections for TMJ may be the next step. What Causes TMJ/TMD Problems? Note: TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint, which is your jaw joint, and TMD stands for Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, which refers to jaw problems. Because most people use the catchall term “TMJ” to describe all TMDs, I use the term TMJ in this article. Anything that causes your jaws to be overworked and fatigued, such as continually clenching your teeth, biting your nails during the day, or clenchin ..read more

  Over the last 10-15 years, the use of clear aligners has found a place, favored by many patients, amidst other traditional orthodontic techniques. When directed by an orthodontist or a trained dentist, tooth movement accomplished by the use of aligners can lead to better dental hygiene and periodontal health, create more stable bite relationships, and boost self-confidence as a result of improved smile esthetics. All of these are positive outcomes. As a TMJ specialist, however, I see many patients who are in the midst of aligner therapy to straighten their teeth experiencing a variety ..read more

As an orofacial pain specialist, patients come to me when they’re suffering from the painful symptoms of a temporomandibular disorder, which you may know as TMJ. TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint, the joint that enables you to open and close your mouth. Many new patients who come to my office have been wearing a standard dental night guard (sometimes called an oral appliance, occlusal splint, or mouth guard) while they sleep, but their symptoms are not improving or even getting worse. Before I explain which type of dental night guard is right for you, I want to make sure you understan ..read more

Most people who suffer from severe headaches don’t think about going to their dentist to get help. But a dentist may be the right professional to turn to if your physician has not been able to determine the root cause of your pain. But first, it’s important to determine whether the headaches you are experiencing fit into a primary or secondary category. Primary headaches are migraines, tension headaches, and cluster headaches. Many dentists do see patients with primary headache problems, but it’s for the secondary type of headache that they can be particularly effective. Secondary headaches c ..read more

  As an Orofacial Pain Specialist, people come to me when they’re suffering from the painful symptoms of a TM Disorder, which you may have heard referred to as TMJ, which is short for temporomandibular joints, which are your jaw joints. For most people, when properly treated, their TMJ problems can be controlled. But, for some, what began as a common TMJ problem can progress to arthritis in the jaw joints – specifically osteoarthritis. To appreciate why arthritis can impact the jaw joints, let’s review some basic concepts about jaw disorders: TMJ Disorders & What Causes Them TM disor ..read more

As an Orofacial Pain specialist, I’ve dedicated my professional career to helping people who suffer from the painful symptoms of TMJ. My daily encounters with patients put me at the cutting edge of the most effective treatments for TMJ, what’s helping patients – and what is not. In early 2021, I took some time to reflect on the wide variety of patients I’ve been seeing in my practice, particularly those who presented for the first time during the Covid pandemic. I looked at what is causing their symptoms and what strategies of care address the risk factors responsible for their pain. TMJ ..read more

Note: This article explains how to evaluate yourself for TMJ, what you can do about it, and how to determine when you need to get some professional help. This past year’s pandemic challenges have led more people to seek care for TMJ problems than ever before. In fact, you may be reading this article because you’ve had your first experience of TMJ during the past year. If you suffer from these kinds of problems, there are some steps you can take to relieve your symptoms. But before you try to evaluate yourself for TMJ, you must first understand the risk factors that led to your jaw being in tr ..read more