Trigeminal Neuralgia (Ep 7)

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: 

 

Podcast Video on Youtube: https://youtu.be/SsmMecaaSPw?si=dKIE--9zntzuwWSp

 

Website TMD Link: https://marzbandds.com/tmj/    

 

Dr. Pamela Marzban's book on Craniofacial Development:  https://www.amazon.com/Craniofacial-Development-Dr-Pamela-Marzban/dp/B098G94QQL/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?crid=1FEJSPFK1IDR7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZrAmETl7xcks706SmJjttD7qk4dE1BBV1FnbS4MiPO_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.uWl1dVxUzIsvz3JrnqFjWMvgaqVRwGOR82_vDZEmc5g&dib_tag=se&keywords=Dr+Pam+Marzban&qid=1710086758&s=books&sprefix=dr+pam+marzban%2Cstripbooks%2C111&sr=1-1-fkmr0    

 

Treatment of adult TMJ starts with a highly trained Neuromuscular dentist as described in Dr. Mac Lee's book: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Robbing-Pain-TMD-Why/dp/B08W7DPVKX/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9BYUZOCDLGT1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hLjNnJAem_aOOpsG6ZA0tUleW6q4adj9kEi2Ud_SXUygvISc5ttL_-W5x0RdU8b6H9Dk_teml8Ymzcjqn7r6aA.rK8BhnrI3S_maQ8wK5KchkwPEVQPa_CBq9CSCgd_0ws&dib_tag=se&keywords=dr+mac+lee&qid=1710086951&s=books&sprefix=Dr+Mac+%2Cstripbooks%2C111&sr=1-1