Author Archives: Dr Gerardo

The Headgear Effect

  Growth Pattern Distortions Related to Orthodontic Headgear Placement. [space] “Headgear” is a familiar term in traditional orthodontics. The oft-dreaded phrase conjures up an image of a child’s face in straps wrapping around the head and attaching to a metal bar, terminating in braces and a mouth-piece. Simply put, traditional orthodontics is structured on the premise that there are too many […]

Wholistic (Holistic) Health Care: Whole-body, Whole-Health

  Both conventional health care and alternative/holistic medicine diagnose and treat symptoms. But there are some important differences. [space] Conventional Health Care: The Bottom Line Due to the current climate of insurance policy and health care regulations, rather than taking the time to correctly diagnose a patient and create an appropriate treatment plan, many health […]

Holistic TMJ Treatment – Part 3. TMJ Diagnosis

[space] Effective holistic chiropractic diagnostic evaluation of a TMJ patient begins at the top of the head and ends at the soles of the feet. And what does treatment entail? Effective, long-lasting relief requires a multi-pronged approach based on a thorough and skilled assessment of individual patient needs. Balancing the cranial-sacral system using SOT cranial […]

Holistic TMJ Treatment – Part 2

[space] TMJ and the Musculoskeletal System The musculosteletal system is made up of the bones of the skeleton, muscles, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints and other connective tissue that support and attach tissues and organs. This system supports the body, allowing motion and protecting vital organs. As TMJ issues inherently involve the musculoskeletal system, treatment of […]

Holistic TMJ Treatment – Part 1. What is TMJ?

[space] What is TMJ – Overview In our complex modern lives, we tend to overload our schedules, spend long hours in front of computer screens, skimp on nutritious meals and adequate sleep and run from appointment to appointment on our “time off.” Exhausting! This near-constant state of busyness and stress often results in facial tension, […]

Symptoms, Sociodemographics, & Psychological Profile: Act Two of the OPPERA Study

Last month we began our report on findings in OPPERA’s Act Two,” the second series of analyses of data from the Orofacial Pain Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment (OPPERA) study, which enrolled healthy volunteers at four campus sites in Chapel Hill, NC; Baltimore; MD; Buffalo, NY; and Gainesville, FL. Follow-up questionnaires were available from 2,737 enrollees, and clinical examinations in the course of the study documented that 260 of these people developed first-onset TMD.

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Intimacy & TMJ Disorders

One of our readers recently brought to our attention a topic that arises occasionally from other TMD patients and we might add, their significant others—intimacy.

“Hi TMJA, I’m a big fan of your website and newsletters and have found both helpful and reassuring. I wonder if you could include something in a future newsletter about the romantic/sexual side effects of TMD which I feel aren’t talked about much but are pretty relevant.

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