An intense study of complex joint (muscle, joint, ligament, disc), complex disease (chronic pain), and overlapping pain conditions.

OROFACIAL PAIN SPECIALIST:

1. Diplomate by the American Board of Orofacial Pain
2. Two year fellowship, University of Florida
3. Rotation through medical and dental specialties
4. Specializing in Chewing system orthopedics, Trigeminal nerve pains, Chronic pain

Chewing System Orthopedics

1. Research and study chronic pain
2. Focus on the four structures of the chewing system
3. Treat the joint muscle systems with Orthopedic Tools
4. Treat moderate to severe damaged in the TMD
5. Identify mind-body interactions related to chronic pain
6. Utilize the science of healing
7. Restore harmony-efficiency-balance to the system
8. Treat the causes of Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
9. Coordinate with the Orthopedic Team
10. Study anxiety & chronic pain

Most dentists are comfortable treating muscle and minor joint pain. Following are some additional topics to discuss with your dentist.

1. At a recall appointment, does your dentist see early hints of parafunctional damage?
2. Does your dentist have additional training in minor TMD?
3. Has your dentist suggested an oral appliance for grinding teeth? Studies show that early prevention prevents the damage progression.
4. Has your dentist had additional training in oral appliances? Ask questions about appliances to confirm which is the optimal appliance for you.
5. Did you know that early use of an appliance slows damage to the TMD?

Chronic Pain Team

1. Patient
2. Physical therapist
3. Biofeedback
4. Orofacial Pain Specialist

COMPLEXITY:

1. The TMD's are complex joints.
2. Chronic pain is complex.
3. There are complex structures in the head & neck.
4. Chronic pain therapies require a team
5. Anxiety rewires the pain system
6. Poor health habits = Poor healing

If you are struggling with any of these complex pain issues, the team at Raleigh Facial Pain specializes in in providing solutions and treatments.

Supporting TEAM:  manage and communicate

Orthotic Therapy (Oral Appliance)

1. Requires tremendous accuracy.
2. Knowledge of how the chewing system is wired and functions around teeth.
3. knowledge of joint muscle systems.
4. Manage the reduction of clenching, grinding and muscle relaxation through periodic orthotic refinements.
5. The orthotic is just one of the tools to manage clenching and grinding.

TEAM

There is no doctor that can mange chronic pain by him/her self. It takes a team of professionals that look at chronic pain from their specialty point of view. The basic team consists of the patient, physical therapy, biofeedback, and chewing system orthopedics (the care at Raleigh Facial Pain). It requires communication across the lines of medicine and dentistry. Often insurance does not pay for this extra level of care.

Psychology of Pain

I have studied anxiety my entire life having grown up as an anxious kid. When studying chronic pain, it became evident that pain and anxiety have a relationship. The psychology of health habits is an entire area of study; based on science and practical experience. Levels of anxiety, stress, emotional hijacking, and PTSD affect our pain. Amazing how our emotional brain programming from childhood so affects our ability to manage chronic pain, relationships, and happiness.

Chewing System Orthopedics

The Raleigh Facial Pain team is highly trained in the health fields and has a high degree of empathy for our chronic pain patients. Our caring is almost as important as the care we provide. The number one therapy provided is HOPE. We help our patients to understand their pain and provide hope of managing chronic pain. Patients must actively participate in their treatment plan; not just show up for appointments. After researching chronic pain, patients participate in developing the treatment plan to help them successfully manage their pain. When a patient crests the hill of health and see happiness on the other side, WOW, what a metamorphosis, what change.

Causes

Damage to lateral ligament of disc occurs due four major factors and four minor factors.

Four major factors: 1) Tension in muscles 2) Grind/clench 3) Neighboring pains 4) Trauma

Four minor factors: 5) Dual bites 6) Open lock 7) Occlusion 8) Pain escalation

Chronic pain

Anxiety + Health Habits + Trauma + Pains = Chronic pain

Chronic Pain Formula 1) PAINS: Acute pain training focuses on structural damage in one area. Chronic pain focuses on many different pains.

2) ANXIETY: Often medical is seen as "the way" to treat anxiety, but there are many integrative tools to manage sources of anxiety. 3) TRAUMA: Accumulated damage from multiple traumas, due to poor health habits. 4) HEALTH HABITS: These establish the body's ability to heal from daily damage to the body as well as traumas.

Patients often want to be fixed, but quick fixes don't last.