Headaches/Migraines/Expert Profile

Expertise

My expertise is in the areas of TMJ Dysfunction, Tension Headaches and Occluso-muscle Disorders. I am a dentist with 19 years of experience, including hospital residency (Sinai Hospital of Baltimore), and training at the L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. Currently in private TMJ Dysfunction and Comprehensive Rehabilitative Practice near Baltimore, Maryland.

Experience in the area

I was the Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Maryland Dental School in 1981. I served as a General Practice Resident at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 1981-82, and have been in private practice since that time. My practice is now located in Owings Mills, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. My studies at the L.D. Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education in Florida has enriched my practice and my patients. It was there that I learned the true meaning of caring and excellence.

What do you like about this subject?

My training in this area has given me the gift to impact the lives of others. As a lifelong student, I continue to be stimulated by the scope of new knowledge that is forthcoming. Success is achieved when two or more people work together for a common goal.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

It is not possible to predictably restore stable health and long term comfort without a thorough examination and a complete diagnosis of the problem(s). If the causes of disease are not addressed, any treatment provided can be expected to be nothing more than a short term fix. New knowledge, techniques, technologies are being developed.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

The jaws can be thought of as a three legged stool. Consider the two jaw joints (TMJs) [located just forward of the ears] to be two of the legs, and the teeth to be the other one. Anything which overloads one "leg", will tend to overload the others. Thus, the first sign of impending damage to the joints may show up in the teeth first.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

Managed care, HMOs, PPOs, and various other insurance products have pressured participants to focus on speed and cost reduction, rather than caring and effectiveness. The effective management of most forms of TMJ dysfunction takes time, skill, care, judgement, and cooperation. Too often, benefits to care for TMJ dysfunction and related problems are restricted.