The orofacial pain patient can present with difficult diagnostic and treatment challenges for dental clinicians and physicians. Often, patients have many overlapping symptoms suggestive of a variety of possible disorders and pain conditions associated with their particular illness. Effective diagnosis can be time consuming, stigmatizing, frustrating and elusive, resulting in the generation of many medical and dental referrals with minimal beneficial yield.

As a practitioner involved in the care of patients with painful maladies for over 30 years, I am prepared to help you. I have made it my professional and academic priority to develop a proprietary investigative protocol which I use to establish diagnostic markers and treatment choices in your care.

My exploratory probe consists of gathering detailed information in the form of patient symptoms, examination, personal and family medical histories, inflammatory, immune, autoimmune and infectious disease blood markers. Imaging studies are ordered when indicated. I utilize this investigatory instrument as a trafficking device to reach my diagnoses and therapeutic targets.

This disease-based platform is indispensable in the process of discovery. I help many patients discover their diagnoses. Demonstrable findings may include coagulopathies, like thrombophilia, complement abnormalities, infectious diseases (including sexually transmitted diseases), rheumatologic disorders, vasculitides, neuropathies, immunologic disorders, paraproteinemias, thyroid disorders and metabolic abnormalities to mention a few.

The types of problems within the facial pain category may include:

FIRST PRESENTATING SYMPTOM OF UNEXPLAINED PAIN IN TEETH
UNEXPLAINED FIRST TIME INTRACTABLE HEADACHE
EYE PAIN
VISUAL DISTURBANCES
BLURRED VISION
DOUBLE VISION
LOSS OF PERIPHERAL VISION
DIFFICULTY MOVING YOUR JAW
PAIN IN YOUR JAWS (UPPER OR LOWER)
PAIN IN YOUR JAW
JOINT PAIN BEHIND YOUR JAW
EAR PAIN
TINNITUS (RINGING IN EARS)
PAIN IN YOUR GLANDS
PAIN IN THE FRONT OR BACK OF YOUR NECK
PAIN IN YOUR HEAD
UNEXPLAINED SCALP SENSITIVITY BURNING,
TINGLING OR NUMBNESS OF TONGUE,
LIPS, GUMS OR CHEEKS FEELING OF SWELLING IN THE TEETH, GUMS, TONGUE, LIPS OR CHEEKS
PAIN IN YOUR PALATE
FACIAL SWELLING
UNEXPLAINED DRY COUGH
UNEXPLAINED SORE THROAT OR HOARSENESS
FATIGUE CHILLS DIZZINESS VERTIGO
NIGHT SWEATS WEIGHT LOSS CHILLS
VOMITING & NAUSEA
PHOTOPHOBIA (LIGHT SENSITIVITY)
PHONOPHOBIA (SOUND SENSITIVITY)
ABNORMAL SENSE OF SMELL
EXCESSIVE THIRST DRY MOUTH (XEROSTOMIA)
RECURRENT URINARY TRACT OR VAGINAL INFECTIONS
RECURRENT INFECTIONS IN GENERAL
RASHES ANGIOMAS (TINY RED MOLES ON YOUR BODY)
DIABETES
RECURRENT CANKER SORES
UNEXPLAINED BOWEL PROBLEMS

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Medications Associated With Orofacial Pain:

ANTIHYPERTENSIVES FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
ACE INHIBITORS
ANGIOTENSIN RECEPTOR BLOCKERS
BETA BLOCKERS
THIAZIDES (DIURETICS)
ANTICOAGULANTS (HEPARIN TYPE DERIVATIVES)
STATINS

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Your best interest is my primary concern.  I help to coordinate your care and make appropriate referrals. While I am skilled at managing many disorders, I only attend those which are within the scope and limitations of my license.  I advocate a “transdisciplinary” approach when necessary,  ensuring each patient receives the best care possible.

There are many treatment options for patients who may have some of these symptoms.  Many times I use non-prescription nutraceuticals to substantially reduce the painful symptoms.  However, there is no such treatment as “one size fits all.”  The treatment must be appropriate for the disease and symptom expression.