Volume 2, Issue 8, August 2004 You may Pass this issue along to friends and associates - just please keep the entire message intact. Sign me up for this e-zine! Visit our Website at www.wholebodymed.com Feature Article The Great American Headache: TMJ   - How is TMJ is treated?   - Self Test: Think you may have TMJ? Take this self test now!   Note From Dr. Breiner As many of you know my son, Adam, is a Naturopathic Physician. Although we have separate practices, we are located in the same office suite, making certain beneficial treatments (i.e. colonics, massage, hyperbarics, etc.) easily available to my patients. This past month, Doc Adam was asked to give a case presentation on treating the after effects from a stroke using Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback at a conference in California. An attendee of the meeting told me it was very well received. Kudos to you Adam, keep up the good work.   Congressman T.R. Rowe Readers of this e-zine may have been following the debate in my home State of Connecticut on the banning of mercury in consumer products. I have taken an interest in one of our local state congressional representatives, Congressman T.R. Rowe. The Congressman has been outspoken in his stand against mercury pollution in our environment and in urging rigorous enforcement of a new ban on mercury products. This would naturally include "mercury" containing silver dental fillings. This coming Wednesday, September 1st, I am hosting a fundraiser for the Congressman's re-election in November. We need those that support this important bi-partisan health issue to remain in office in our state, as well as U.S. Congressional representatives like Diane Watson (D-CA) and Dan Burton (R-IN), who are also active in this issue on a national level to remain in office in their respective home states. I know that readers of this newsletter come from around-the-globe; however, I would urge you to pass this information along to friends, families, or colleagues that can make a difference at the voting booth this November. Anyone that wishes to donate to Congressman Rowe's campaign can send me an email asking for further contact information. EPA and DuPont On the subject of toxicity, I was shocked to learn that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has filed a complaint against DuPont. Why? It is over Teflon and twenty years of hiding evidence of DuPont's own health and environmental concerns regarding an ingredient in making Teflon - Perfluorooctanoic acid. This ingredient is now ubiquitous in the environment and in people. In fact, it is found in 90% of people's blood. Guess what is in this chemical that is so dangerous?Fluoride. Unfortunately, the newspapers do not point this out. Next month's e-zine will discuss the fluoride issue. The information presented is for educational purposes only. You should consult a qualified dentist or health practitioner for diagnosis and treatment. Feature Article Head Pain? TMJ Can you imagine having such dizziness, head and chest pain that you have to go to the emergency room? Not once - but on a regular basis because the only relief you were given was an injection to knock you out? Imagine the despair when doctor after doctor told you that there was nothing they could find wrong. Just by looking at her, I knew what the solution was... Desperate, Josephine came to me with this problem. After taking her history, I knew just by looking at her what the solution was. Looking at her profile, Josephine had a retruded chin. Her lower jaw was far behind her upper jaw. This is often a recipe for disaster. With the lower jaw "forced backward" the cartilage that acts as a cushion between where the lower jaw meets the skull can become dislocated. This prevents being able to open widely, and the jaw can get stuck in an open or closed position. Also, the muscles that help to move the lower jaw never have a chance to relax, putting them into chronic spasm. This will often lead to pain in the head and face. The joint at which the lower jaw meets the skull is right in front of the ear, frequently leading to noises in the ears or to various degrees of vertigo. The area is also rich in nerves and blood vessels, again, leading to different types of symptoms. Upon examining Josephine, I found not only was her lower jaw being forced too far back (about 10 mm), but it was also off to one side by about 5mm. Five or ten millimeters may not seem like a lot, but in the mouth, it is equivalent to a wide river. Testing a "new bite" for Josephine I placed Josephine's lower jaw into what I thought would be her ideal position. This means I moved her jaw forward about 10 mm and to one side. In this position, there was now space between her back teeth. Next I squirted some liquid acrylic between her back teeth and let it get hard. I then took the "acrylic" bite registration out of her mouth, and had her stand up. Using Applied Kinesiology (muscle testing), I tested Josephine's arm (deltoid) muscle, and found it strong. Having her close her teeth together, I placed a finger in front of her ear, on her jaw joint. Again testing her arm muscle, it was now weak. This indicates a problem in the jaw joint (TMJ - temporomandibular joint). I then placed the acrylic bite registration in her mouth and had her close into her "new bite". Again, testing her jaw joint with my finger in front of her ear - her arm muscle remained strong. This gives an indication that this new bite position is the right position for her. Next, I performed EAV (Electroacupuncture) screening on the acupuncture points of Josephine's hands and feet. EAV is a method of stress testing acupuncture points. While doing this, I had Josephine keep her teeth apart. She had only a few points that had an imbalance. I then told her to keep her teeth together, and retested the points. Now all points tested abnormal, demonstrating how much stress her bite was placing on her system. "Oh, this feels so much better!" Placing the acrylic bite in her mouth, I had her clench and then rechecked the acupuncture points; all but a few were normal. This helped confirm that placing her jaw into this new position would yield positive results. As Josephine sat there, she put her hands on her face and said, "Oh, this feels so much better." Impressions of her mouth were taken and an appliance was made to fit over her lower back teeth, thus allowing a more harmonious jaw relationship. No more head pain, no more dizziness, no more chest pains .... Seeing Josephine a few weeks after seating her appliance, she looked like a new person, her eyes were bright, and her spirits high. No more dizziness, no more head pain, and no more chest pains and irregular heart beats. Who would think that a bad bite could cause so much trouble? Note, Josephine's jaw discrepancy was quite severe although, unfortunately, not uncommon. However, even much smaller discrepancies can cause severe problems. © 2003, Mark A.Breiner, DDS A Self Test For TMD You Can Take Right Now! Answer the following questions: - Do you get frequent headaches or facial pain? - Do you get frequent neck aches or shoulder aches? - Do you find yourself clenching your teeth during the day? - Do you grind your teeth at night? - Do you wake up with your teeth clenched? - If you answered "yes" to any of the above, especially 2 or more, there is a good chance you may have TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction) Try the following self assessment for TMD: - Put the pad of one finger (use the index finger) in each ear and with the pad facing forward toward your nose, press your fingers forward - is it tender? If it is this can indicate inflammation in the temporomandibular joint. With your fingers still in your ears, open and close- do you feel or hear any popping or clicking? Popping or clicking can indicate problems with the cartilage that is in the joint space. - Press a finger just slightly in front of the opening of your ears- do you feel tenderness? A yes response again could indicate inflammation within the joint. - With your index, middle and ring finger held together, open your mouth and see if you can place them vertically between your upper and lower front teeth? If you cannot, this is often a sign of TMD problems. © 2003, Mark A. Breiner, DDS   Patient Question: If I have a TMD problem, how is it corrected? Answer: Often TMD problems can be alleviated by reshaping the surfaces of the teeth. By allowing the teeth to hit more evenly and without interferences the muscles are allowed to relax and symptoms quickly disappear. If the symptoms are due to a structural problem then orthodontics is often the best method of treatment. Unfortunately, many TMD problems occur after having orthodontics, especially if permanent teeth are extracted. Retreatment with functional orthodontics is often necessary. Sometimes a night guard will alleviate the symptoms or a repositioning appliance, as discussed in the article above, will be beneficial. However, these are usually more diagnostic and further treatment is necessary.     Learn more about TMJ   Additional Information on headaches and TMD are covered in Dr. Breiner's book, Whole-Body Dentistry, available on-line at www.wholebodydentistry.com or by phone at 1.800.BOOKLOG (800.266.5564).  About Dr. Breiner Whole Body News Update expert, Mark A. Breiner, DDS, FAGD, FIAOMT, is a leading authority and pioneer in the field of holistic dentistry. He is the author of the popular consumer education book, Whole-Body Dentistry, a guide to the "dental connection" to whole-body wellness. With more than 30 years experience, Dr. Breiner has helped patients from across the US and other countries attain a higher overall level of dental health and general well-being. Dr. Breiner is currently serving as President of The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology. "Whole-Body Dentistry is more than whether your teeth are healthy; it's whether you are healthy!" - Dr. Robert C. Atkins, M.D. Yes, you may pass this e-zine along to family, friends, or associates that you feel may benefit from this information. Just please keep the entire issue intact. If you are interested in using this article in your publication, please contact DoctorBreiner@wholebodydentistry.com for reprint permission.     Whole Body News Update is your free monthly e-zine to stay up-to-date on many dental health issues as well as other important alternative health topics; featuring articles, interviews with experts, actual patient stories, Q&A on holistic health topics, with emphasis on the "Dental-Whole-Body Health Connection". This e-zine is designed to help you become a knowledgeable participant in your health care choices. If you would like to offer feedback or suggestions for future topics for this e-zine please e-mail Dr. Breiner at DoctorBreiner@wholebodydentistry.com To learn more about Dr. Breiner and Whole-Body Dentistry, visit www.wholebodydentistry.com © Copyright 2004 Mark A. Breiner, D.D.S. All Rights Reserved.