By spending 15 minutes with your patients who are complaining of pain in the face, you can predict whether you can manage them successfully in your private practice. Here are three things you can do to better predict success with your TMD patients:
LOCATION: Palpate the head and neck to determine the source of their pain. Having pain in the muscles instead of pain in the joints or disc increases the chances of having chronic TMD. A study found that having muscular type of TMD is one factor used to predict chronic pain after 5 years.
OTHER PAINS: Ask whether they also suffer from other pain conditions, such as neck and shoulder pain, headaches, fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome. Individuals with TMD have a high prevalence of other pain conditions, with a mean total number between 3-5. These comorbid conditions will complicate healing and will need to be addressed with their MDs.
MOOD: You should ask your patients whether they are currently being treated for or have in the past for any mood disorders. The number one factor to predict chronic TMD is the presence of depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. Unfortunately, pain and mood go hand in hand.
Haissam Dahan, DMD, MSc
Dr. Dahan welcomes patients with:
- Temporomandibular disorders
- Migraine and Headaches
- Snoring and Sleep Apnea
- Trigeminal Neuralgia
- Burning Mouth Syndrome
- Atypical Facial Pain
- Excessive Grinding Habits
Our Holistic Therapies Include:
- Oral Splint Therapy
- Trigger Point Injections
- Peripheral Nerve Blocks
- BOTOX Injections
- TMJ Steroid Injections
- Pharmacological Management
- Exercise Therapy
| Please call to obtain our referral pad and clinic brochure. |
| www.ottawatmjclinic.com (613) 454-1854[email protected]1335 Carling Avenue, Suite 301, Ottawa ON K1Z8N8
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