Integrating Temporomandibular Disorders into Dental Education
12-Minute Listen Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), masticatory muscles, and surrounding tissues, resulting in pain, limited jaw movement, and joint noises such as clicking or popping. TMDs...
Can Natural Compounds Help with Chronic Pelvic Pain?
5-minute Listen It's estimated that 10-15% of all women of reproductive age and 70% of women with chronic pelvic pain are affected by endometriosis [1]. Often, it takes a while for the diagnosis, which prolongs the amount of time that women spend in pain and...
How Those with Parkinson’s Disease Perceive Pain Experiences
5-Minute Listen According to the National Institutes of Health, Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the country [1]. Chronic pain is something that is common for those who have the condition, which impacts their quality of life....
The Surprising Association Between Smoking and Chronic Pain
3-minute listen Most people, including those who smoke, know that there are some health risks associated with smoking. They are often aware of the increased risks of cancer, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and some of the other health issues...
Return of Investment in Pursuing Oral Health Education
9-minute listen A traditional return on investment ROI is a calculation of the net returns from an investment divided by the costs [1], and many students and practitioners rely on this calculation when deciding to pursue further education. Ultimately, ROI in (graduate...
Impact of Post Graduate Education in Geriatric Dentistry on Patient Care
15-Minute Listen Introduction Are we as dental professionals prepared and ready to meet the rapidly increasing demand of growing numbers of older adults in the U.S.? [1] These older adults will come into our offices with diverse issues such as...
Why is Phenotyping of TMD-OFP Patients Important?
8-Minute Listen In the field of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and orofacial pain (OFP), we are facing a critical juncture in patient care. Our current diagnostic approach, while useful, may be too broad to capture the nuanced differences between patients...
Navigating Vitamins, Supplements, and Over-The-Counter Medications
14-Minute Listen As we age, our bodies change in ways that can impact our nutritional needs and how we process medications. For older adults, keeping a close eye on vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter (OTC) medications is crucial for maintaining good...
Can Meditation Help with Chronic Neuropathy?
6-Minute Listen Millions of people in the country suffer from a condition called neuropathy, which is associated with chronic pain, tingling, swelling, numbness, and weakening of the muscles. The condition leaves many people living in pain for years as they search for...
Oral Health Education Impact on Oral Health
8-Minute Listen The promotion of oral health through education or consumer informational nudges [1] has been shown to effectively increase oral health awareness, encourage self-care hygiene techniques, and foster habits that support long-term oral health. Oral health...
The Link Between Sleep Disorders, Depression, and Chronic Low Back Pain
5-Minute Listen Many people suffer from chronic low back pain in the country. There are also many who experience sleep disorders and depression. For millions of people, they experience one or more of them at the same time, leading researchers to wonder what overlap...
Vitamin B12 and Alpha Lipoic Acid for Trigeminal Neuropathy
11-Minute Listen Chronic Trigeminal Neuropathy Chronic trigeminal neuropathy (CTN) involves damage or dysfunction of the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the skin and mucosal surfaces of the face to the brain. Depending...
Treatment Options for Chronic Knee Pain
Those who have chronic knee pain know all too much how difficult it can make life. Having chronic knee pain means that someone may have a knee that is in pain, swollen, stiff, red, and warm, and makes noises when being used. The condition can make people unstable and...
Is Acupuncture an Excellent Option to Help with Chronic Neck Pain?
We as a society may crack jokes about certain things being a pain in the neck, but chronic neck pain is no laughing matter for those who have it. The ongoing pain can leave them feeling stiff, with limited range of motion, muscle tightness, headaches, and more. It's...
Why Don’t My Patients Get Better?
8-Minutes Listen As healthcare providers, we often encounter situations where our patients don't improve as expected, despite our best efforts and well-crafted treatment plans. This can be frustrating for both the patient and the practitioner. While it's natural to...
Nutrition and Diet in Older Adults: A Key to Healthy Aging
6-Minute Listen As we age, our nutritional needs change, and maintaining a balanced diet becomes increasingly important for overall health and well-being. Recent research has shed light on the crucial role of nutrition in healthy aging, highlighting specific dietary...
Role of Fluoride in Dental Public Health
Have you ever wondered what fluoride is, why your dentist or hygienist recommends it, or why it’s added to tap water in some communities? In this brief blog, we’ll explore these questions. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral known for its...
Over-the-Counter Supplements for Burning Mouth Syndrome
Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition that causes oral burning for more than two hours daily over three months without any evident clinical changes or lesions in the oral mucosa (Figure 1). This burning sensation is usually associated with dry mouth and...
CBD and Hemp Oil to Help with Chronic Pain
Those who live with chronic pain are always looking for a way to find relief. They are often open to new ideas and willing to try promising products. According to the research, one thing they may want to get on their radar is CBD and hemp oil. These products may...
Is Not Getting Enough Sleep Making Chronic Pain Worse?
Most people know that sleep is essential and plays a vital role in our function. While acute sleep deficiency may have a short-term impact, chronic sleep issues can have a more serious outcome, especially for those who suffer from chronic pain. This has led...
Proper Storage for Medications Prescribed for Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine Patients
In Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine, many chronic conditions need permanent storage of medications since patients need to take the medicines for months, even for years. The prescription is usually granted once every 8 to 12 weeks when the patient is seen in a...
Can Improving Psychological Factors Help with Chronic Pain from Fibromyalgia?
Millions of people have fibromyalgia, which lowers their quality of life and keeps them from doing many things. Researchers wanted to know if there are psychological issues that influence chronic pain from fibromyalgia, so they put it to the test. They gained some...
Our Smiles, Our Rides, Our Earth: The Eco-Impact of Dental Care
Introduction Have you ever thought about how your mouth can impact the environment? This blog looks at how individual, professional, and organizational responsibilities and policies can impact the only planet we have to live on. Climate change is an escalating crisis...
Does Diet Influence Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain?
Most of us know that eating a healthy diet has many benefits. What we may not be aware of is its impact on our muscles and chronic pain. For those who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain, relief may be found at the end of the fork. The more researchers learn...