Open UP: A TMJ Discussion

In this episode, we dive deep into the connection between TMD, vertigo, and tinnitus. Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pamela Marzban discuss the challenges of diagnosing and treating vertigo when TMD might be the underlying cause. Learn how the complex relationship between jaw position, inner ear structures, and nerve involvement can lead to symptoms like dizziness and ringing in the ears.

Dr. Marzban shares real-life cases, including a remarkable success story of a patient whose debilitating vertigo was resolved through neuromuscular orthotic treatment. They discuss why some TMD treatments fail and why finding a skilled neuromuscular dentist is essential for lasting relief. Plus, learn a quick at-home test to see if your jaw position might be impacting your symptoms.

Whether you're a dentist looking to expand your understanding or a patient seeking solutions, this episode offers invaluable insights into how TMD and inner ear issues intertwine.

Mentioned Resources:

Book: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr. Mac Lee

Book: Craniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban

Podcast Website: carekp.podbean.com

Hashtags:

#TMD #TMJ #Vertigo #Tinnitus #NeuromuscularDentistry #PainRelief #JawPain #ChronicPain #PatientEducation #DrMacLee #DrPamelaMarzban #DentalPodcast #OralHealth

Bed wetting and Night Terrors

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Howard Farran, founder of Dentaltown, to discuss the pressing issues in dental care for patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Dr. Farran passionately explains how TMD treatment is often overlooked in dental education, leading to inconsistencies among dentists regarding effective care strategies. He delves into the pitfalls of insurance-driven dental practices, highlighting the shortcomings of the current dental insurance system. Moreover, Dr. Farran emphasizes the critical need for improved collaboration between doctors and dentists to enhance patient outcomes.

We also explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing patient care and dentist-patient connections. AI-powered tools can help pain patients locate qualified dentists near them by analyzing their symptoms and using their location to provide tailored recommendations. Additionally, AI is reshaping how search engines rank and present businesses, offering critical insights that benefit both dentists and patients. Understanding these advancements is essential for dentists aiming to attract patients and for individuals seeking specialized care.

Hashtags:

#TMDTreatment #DentalEducation #HowardFarran #DentalInsurance #HealthcareCollaboration #PatientCare #AIinDentistry #TechForHealthcare

Due to abnormal breathing issues, mainly mouth breathing, our children’s faces are shrinking. Smaller faces mean crooked adult teeth, apnea, and TMD during the adult years.

Topics like why faces are shrinking, what can be done to prevent improper craniofacial development, at what age, who should treat are discussed.

The only way to prevent adult TMD and Sleep Apnea is to start at the right age which is explained by Pam. If you have children, this is very important information. If you have TMD and or Apnea and have children this information is critically important due to genetics.

#tmj #apnea #craniofacialdevelopment #shrinking faces #mouthbreathing #tonguetie

If missing teeth don’t seem to cause trouble with eating, why spend the time, money, and emotional energy to replace them? In this episode, we explain how missing teeth can contribute to TMJ/TMD pain and why replacing them is crucial for your overall oral health.

We’ll discuss different tooth replacement options, from implants to partial dentures, and break down the hidden risks of leaving gaps in your smile. Think of your teeth like books in a bookcase—remove a few, and everything starts to shift and lean. Unstable teeth can cause bigger problems over time.

We’ll also talk about the surprising value of a healthy mouth (hint: it’s well over $100,000).

This honest, no-nonsense conversation will help you see the true importance of your teeth. Stick around until the end to understand how much your smile is really worth.

#missingteeth #TMD #TMJ #implants #partialdentures

Mouth breathing, often caused by allergies and nasal congestion, can significantly impact a growing child’s health, sleep, facial development, and overall well-being. Dr. Manan Shah, ENT, joins us to explain why environmental allergies are the leading cause of nasal blockages and why addressing them is essential.

Key Highlights:

80 million Americans suffer from allergies.

Nasal sprays aren’t the solution.

Allergies affect sleep, quality of life, and overall health.

Only 4,000 allergists are available to help millions of sufferers.

Dr. Shah discusses how to retrain the immune system with a no-shot form of immunotherapy, providing relief from allergies like ragweed, cedar, cat dander, and more. As the founder of Wyndly, Dr. Shah has developed a convenient at-home solution for allergy testing, diagnosis, and treatment.

Don’t miss this episode to learn how to breathe easier and live allergy-free!

#MouthBreathing #ENT #AirwayHealth #Allergies #Immunotherapy #TMJ #TMD

Bicuspid extractions for orthodontics remain a hot topic worldwide. Pam and Mac tackle this issue head-on and share the good and the bad.

Mac brings fifty years of experience working with various orthodontists—some great, some less so. Pam, who performs much of her own orthodontic work, responded emphatically to Mac’s initial question on bicuspid extractions with, “Do not do it!”

Removing bicuspids creates a large gap on both sides of the mouth, which can simplify tooth movement during orthodontic treatment. However, this can also lead to long-term issues, such as TMD (temporomandibular disorder) pain and airway complications like obstructive sleep apnea. While there’s debate over whether this technique directly causes such problems—since not every patient with extractions develops these issues—many clinicians treating adult TMD patients report a significant number have undergone bicuspid extractions.

"Four-bicuspid" extraction cases may initially appear successful but can restrict and compromise jaw closure and contribute to a deficient maxilla, as discussed in our Trifecta Podcasts. Although some orthodontic studies deny this correlation, practitioners dealing with TMD pain often see a different reality.

Bicuspid extractions can also alter facial structure, often resulting in a flattened profile. James Nestor, author of the bestseller Breath, has publicly shared his own experience with bicuspid extractions and recovery on the Joe Rogan Podcast, further highlighting its relevance in the dental industry.

Pam also discusses the optimal age for children to be screened for orthodontic intervention and shares her differing views on craniofacial development compared to many orthodontists. Compressed airways in children can lead to chronic oxygen deprivation, causing them to "live in a fog."

In this episode, Pam and Mac challenge certain established dental practices, offering a unique perspective. Once patients complete orthodontic treatment, orthodontists typically don’t see them again—general dentists do. Unfortunately, many dentists are not equipped to treat TMD, leading to referrals to specialists like Pam and Mac. Having seen retraction orthodontics cause TMD countless times, they emphasize its impact.

If you’ve undergone orthodontics or have children in need of it, this podcast is essential listening. It’s a controversial discussion, as intended.

Hashtags: #Orthodontics #BicuspidExtraction #TMD #AirwayHealth #DentalPodcast #CraniofacialDevelopment #OrthoControversy #DentalHealth #ParentingTips #OrthodonticScreening

Finding a dentist who really understands TMD can feel like a puzzle. In Podcast 16: Finding the Right TMJ Dentist, Pam and Mac dig into the reasons behind this challenge—and provide practical tips for finding the best dentist for your jaw pain.

They explore why TMD diagnosis and treatment can seem so confusing and inconsistent. One dentist may offer one approach, while another suggests something entirely different. This disconnect often comes down to post-dental school training, where each dentist may follow a different philosophy, from neuromuscular to functional or cosmetic approaches. Since TMD education is almost nonexistent in dental school, only a few dedicated dentists pursue specialized training after graduation.

For patients, this podcast emphasizes the importance of interviewing potential dentists to learn about their post-graduate education in TMD. Pam and Mac explain the core "camps" in advanced dental training—like the Pankey Institute, Dawson Academy, and LVI—and share why they chose to focus on Neuromuscular Dentistry. Neuromuscular dentists are unique in that they focus on aligning the jaw position, which can often be the key to TMD relief.

Pam and Mac also stress that successful TMD dentists have super-trained teams who are just as dedicated to understanding and listening to patients' needs. From the first call to the website quality, a knowledgeable team and a state-of-the-art clinic environment make all the difference. If your first visit doesn’t feel right, that’s a sign to keep looking.

In short, this podcast gives TMD patients valuable insights to find the right dentist who will listen, diagnose confidently, and commit to a personalized treatment plan.

Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RouUMpYquI3A-GS7TMrUGVaxmrrG-h8o/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.p4

* Slide number 5 & 6 specifically show the images we were discussing during the podcast.

#TMJRelief #FindYourDentist #TMDJourney #NeuromuscularDentistry #PainFreeLiving #TMD #ICCMO #DentalEducation

Guest: Dana Sterling, Founder of Sterling Structural Therapy (SST)

• ​ Introduction:

o Dana Sterling, an expert on fascia, joins the Open Up podcast as the first-ever guest.

o Fascia is emerging as a new frontier in pain management, revolutionizing treatment approaches.

o Dana recently spoke at the ICCMO conference in Denver, where both Pam and Mac felt her insights were essential to share with the world.

• ​ About Dana Sterling & Sterling Structural Therapy (SST):

o Dana pioneered Sterling Structural Therapy (SST), a groundbreaking non-invasive method for treating chronic pain and orthopedic conditions.

o SST is the only fascia-based therapy delivering effective results virtually, eliminating the need for hands-on treatment.

o With SST, Dana is able to help people worldwide through virtual consultations.

o Dana offers a free 45-minute assessment and consultation for those interested in SST.

• ​ Key Discussion Points:

o Transition from Hands-on to Virtual Fascia Therapy:

▪ Dana explains how she adapted hands-on fascia treatment into a virtual model, making her therapy accessible globally.

o Understanding Fascia and its Role:

▪ Fascia is referred to as the "organ of form"—a connective tissue system that holds our muscles, organs, and bones in place.

▪ Removing fascia would leave the body as a "formless goo," demonstrating its structural importance.

o Anatomy Trains:

▪ The concept of "Anatomy Trains" is introduced, highlighting the connections from the feet to the teeth.

o TMD and the Jaw:

▪ The jaw is a floating structure, and conditions like TMD can wreak havoc on it, affecting the entire body’s fascia.

o Muscle Pain vs. Fascia Pain:

▪ Dana differentiates between muscle pain and fascia pain and explains how chronic pain differs from acute pain.

o Noninvasive First:

▪ Dana emphasizes starting with noninvasive techniques for pain management.

• ​ Additional Insights:

o "My boss is your body":

▪ Dana stresses that the body directs the therapy, not the therapist.

o Muscle Memory & Myofascial Connection:

▪ The discussion touches on how muscle memory and myofascial connections work together, with fascia being the hardware and the brain the software.

o Exercise and Fascia:

▪ The importance of regular exercise for maintaining muscle, fascia, and bone health is highlighted.

o Phonetics & Jaw Alignment:

▪ Phonetic exercises can help in finding the correct upper and lower jaw relationships, aiding in pain relief.

o Tongue Exercises:

▪ Tongue exercises are explored as a method to relieve fascia tension in the body.

o Efficiency of the Human Body:

▪ Dana explains how the human body is designed for efficiency, and how fascia plays a role in that.

o Forward Head Posture:

▪ The impact of forward head posture on fascia and the body as we age is discussed.

Link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RouUMpYquI3A-GS7TMrUGVaxmrrG-h8o/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000&slide=id.p4

* Slide number 5 & 6 specifically show the images we were discussing during the podcast.

Hashtags:
#Fascia #PainManagement #SterlingStructuralTherapy #NonInvasiveTreatment
#ChronicPainRelief #TMD #VirtualTherapy #Myofascial #AnatomyTrains #ForwardHeadPosture
#JawAlignment #ConnectiveTissue #BodyEfficiency #TongueExercises #PostureAndPain#tmj

In this episode, we dive deep into the importance of listening skills when answering multiple patient questions, particularly for those dealing with pain. The main focus is on a patient's inquiry about displaced discs, the need for an MRI, and whether orthodontic elastics can contribute to displacing a disc. The patient, with limited jaw opening (30mm, 20mm too little) and a slight joint noise, seeks clarity on these issues.

We break down the question into simple, understandable parts. The key takeaway? The bite directly affects joint position. When the bite changes, so does the joint position. While this shift is generally tolerated during orthodontic treatment, everything needs to be in harmony once the treatment is complete. If bite and joint position aren’t aligned, serious problems can arise, leading to long-term pain and damage.

We emphasize the importance of dentists having a clear understanding of the proper jaw-to-jaw relationship before starting any orthodontic treatment. Pam always begins with a neuromuscular orthotic to create a "blueprint" for the correct joint and bite alignment, ensuring that treatment is geared toward optimal results.

If you've ever had, are currently wearing, or are considering braces, this podcast is a must-listen. Braces done without considering the critical relationship between the bite and joint can lead to a lifetime of pain and destruction. We also offer valuable advice on how to find the right dentist for your orthodontic treatment.

In a second question, we discuss other orthodontic issues, like why teeth shift so quickly, the importance of addressing the root causes, and how lip and tongue posture affect treatment outcomes. We even cover why some people develop a gummy smile and the strange connection between orthodontic issues and ear pressure changes, like those felt when driving through mountains.

Join us as we explore these vital topics and more in a way that’s easy to understand and directly helpful to anyone navigating orthodontic treatment.

Hashtags/SEO Topics:

#ListeningSkills #OrthodonticTreatment #JawPain #DisplacedDiscs #BiteAlignment #NeuromuscularOrthotic #DentalHealth #BracesProblems #JawJoint #TMJPain #TeethShifting #GummySmile #TonguePosture #LipPosture #EarPressure #DentalCareTips