HowA Visit To The Dentist May Be Just What The Doctor Ordered and other specialists in pain (NAPSA)—You may not associ- ate headacherelief with a trip to the dentist, but dental care may be your best medicine. Although many people don’t think to see their dentists for symptoms such as chronic headaches, neck pain or sleeping disor- management. ders, advances in dental research and technology have led to more comprehensive treatment for problems originating from or related to the mouth, head and neck. Dentists, particularly specialists, are increasingly helping patients overcome these types of chronic pain. “People with chronic pain likely visit multiple physicians seekingpain relief, but they don’t often think to consult a dentist as well,” says Noshir Mehta, DMD, MDS, MS, director of the Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. “Integrating dental expertise into assessing and treat- ing head, neck and facial pain, however, may greatly benefit patients. Doing so may not only treat, but may also cure pain that patients feared would never go away.” According to Dr. Mehta, talk to your dentist if you have sought treatment for, but are still regularly experiencing, any of the following symptoms: Headaches: migraines, ten- sion and/or vascular; Neck pain: stiffness and/or noise during movementof neck; Temporomandibular joint Photo courtesy of Tufts University photography Dentists, particularly specialists, are increasingly helping patients overcome chronic head, neck or face pain. disorders (TMJ)/jaw joint pain: clicking, popping and grating noises and/or locking of the jaw; Ear pain: ringing in the ears, stuffiness and dizziness; Eye pain: pressure and diffi- culty focusing; Shoulder and arm pain: weakness, tingling and numbness of fingers; Changes in bite: pain in teeth, inability to chew without pain, uncomfortable bite; Tightness in mouth or jaw: clenching andgrindingof teeth; Sleep disorders: sleep apnea and/or snoring. The Craniofacial Pain Center at Tufts develops treatment plans for patients that include not only dental expertise but, if needed, treatment from physicians, psychologists, chiropractors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, spe- cialists in integrative medicine “Much of our success at the center is due to collaborating with other health professionals to offer patients multidisciplinary treatments,” says Dr. Mehta. “I encourage people to seek this same sort of multidisciplinary treatment by requesting that their dentists and primary care physicians work together to improve their condition.” Treatment options for pain related to the face, head and neck may include: Wearing dental mouth guards and/or appliances to relax muscles andstabilize joints; Identifying and modifying behaviors, such as teeth clench- ing, that may cause chronic pain; Attending physical or occupational therapy sessions; Taking medications, such as muscle relaxants or anti-anxiety drugs; Educating patients on nutrition and home care; Getting regular massage, acupressure or acupuncture therapy; Receiving injections to block nerve action that causes pain; Managingstress. “People often live with chronic head, neck or face pain when they don’t need to,” says Dr. Mehta. “We need to get the word out that now there are more options. Talking to your dentist about your chronic head, neck or face pain may be an integral part of the solution.”
