A recent study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) has revealed that patients who suffer from debilitating migraine headaches may be at an increased risk for developing another painful condition: temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJD for short. Temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw to the rest of the skull. The disorder occurs when the temporomandibular joint becomes out of alignment, causing everything from pain and soreness of the jaw to tinnitus; teeth grinding (also known as bruxism); head, neck and back aches; and the inability to open and close the mouth and jaw.

According to Bellmore, New York, neuromuscular dentistry specialist Dr. Gary Lederman, an estimated 15 percent of the population suffers from temporomandibular joint disorder - and some of those people could also be suffering from migraine headaches.

Do you wear a mouth guard? Maybe you feel like you don’t need to because you don’t play a sport, but there are many reasons people wear mouth guards that have nothing to do with athletic activities. Mouth guards can be a significant financial investment for some people, but believe it or not, they can often pay for themselves over time, especially when it comes to wear and tear on the teeth. Here are a few ways in which anyone can benefit from wearing a mouth guard.

Parkinson’s disease affects an estimated 10 million people worldwide, with men 1.5 times more likely to have the illness than women. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disease caused by degeneration of the brain’s basal ganglia and the brain’s dopamine transmitter. Parkinson’s disease most commonly affects persons over the age of 50, but approximately 4 percent are diagnosed with the illness prior to age 50.

Stress. It can strike at any time, any place, and for any reason. But when it comes to stress, nothing seems to bring it on quite like work. Whether it’s a tough client, a fast-approaching deadline or a project that just won’t seem to come together, for most people, work stress is just a fact of life. Worse yet, stress can cause us to do some bad things, including grinding our teeth, clenching our jaws and even mindlessly snacking on sugary foods.

But you don’t need to let stress ruin your oral health. Here are some tips you can use anywhere to help reduce your stress level without gritting your teeth or reaching for that bag of candy hidden in your desk (we see you!).

There’s something different about actress Dakota Johnson these days. Following a recent appearance on the talk show The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Johnson revealed that a change in her famous gap-toothed smile was due to the removal of a permanent retainer. According to Johnson, once the retainer was removed, her teeth shifted, and the signature space between her top two central incisors closed up. Johnson addressed concerns of saddened fans who have grown accustomed to the actress’s teeth, which in a sea of spotless Hollywood smiles always stood out. She assured them that the gap would be back following further treatment.

If you’re like most people, you feel a lot better after getting a good night’s sleep. But for some people, staying up late and getting up early is just a way of life. Unfortunately, according to a new study from Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea, sleeping less than five hours (or more than nine hours) could be detrimental to your health.

The study, which was led by Professor Shim Hye-young, found that patients who slept less than five hours each night weren’t just at a high risk of being tired during the day - they also increased their risk of developing the painful joint condition temporomandibular joint disorder (or TMJ disorder for short).

When it comes to sleeping, there’s a lot of misinformation about what’s healthy and what’s not. But unfortunately, what you don’t know really can hurt you. Check out these three sleep-related myths and the real science behind them.

A recent article in the news magazine Philly Voice shed light on a subject that may come as very little surprise to many of Dr. Lederman’s patients. Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ disorder, is becoming increasingly common - especially among a certain subset of the population.

The article claims that millennials – those born roughly between the years 1981 and 1996 – are coming in to local dental offices in droves complaining of temporomandibular joint disorder symptoms ranging from jaw pain and stiffness to jaw clicking and popping, headaches, neckaches, backaches, tension, teeth grinding (bruxism), and more.  

It’s a fact of life these days that most of us work pretty long hours. Those late workdays don’t leave time for much outside of work - including maintaining our oral health. But don’t let a hectic workday be your excuse to not care for your teeth. It may seem impossible, or at very least not worth the trouble, but keeping your teeth clean during the workday is a great way to stave off many oral health problems that could arise down the line. Here are a few of our favorite tips.

Has your temporomandibular joint disorder ever hurt so badly that you just wished you could throw out your old temporomandibular joint and get a whole new one? Well, the good news is that in the future you may be able to do just that. For now, however, that procedure is reserved for very rare cases, such as the recent case of a man in Cyprus who received a new temporomandibular joint following cancer treatment.

  Temporomandibular joint disorder can take the pleasure out of many things most people take for granted: singing, talking - even Halloween. That’s right. Halloween should be a fun day full of candy and costumes, but for someone with TMJ disorder, it can be a real nightmare. That’s because TMJ disorder can make normally enjoyable activities painful. But Halloween doesn’t have to be scary for your TMJ disorder! Here are some TMJ-disorder-friendly Halloween tips for the most spooktacular Halloween ever.

It’s not always easy being a woman - especially when it comes to your temporomandibular joint. That’s because, according to research, women ages 20 to 35 experience the most severe temporomandibular joint disorder symptoms of any age or gender group.

Arthritis is a disorder that causes painful inflammation of the joints. An estimated 350 million people worldwide suffer from some form of arthritis, with 40 million of those cases right here in the United States. But despite its frequent occurrence, you may not realize that arthritis can sometimes be responsible for another painful joint condition: temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. That’s because TMD is a disorder of the joints too – the temporomandibular joints. Though TMD can be caused by many different things, many people don’t realize that arthritis could be the culprit.

For people who suffer from both migraines and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), the two conditions can seem so bad they’re related. Now, a new study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) has discovered they might be.

An estimated 12 percent of Americans suffer from debilitating migraine headaches - headaches that in addition to causing agonizing pain can cause everything from nausea to light sensitivity and dizziness. But while for some of those migraine sufferers, the pain stops there, the NIH has revealed that those who suffer from migraines are three times more likely to suffer from another debilitating condition: TMD.

If you’re one of the 10 million Americans suffering from temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD for short, you’re probably already aware of the many different types of pain TMD causes. In addition to the jaw pain that is synonymous with TMD (after all, the temporomandibular joint is in the jaw), you may experience pain in other areas of the head and body. But for the millions of estimated undiagnosed TMD patients, their pain may not be an obvious clue. That’s because as TMD sufferers are probably already aware, every case of TMD is different, and the pain isn’t always in the jaw.

It’s no secret that pollution and environmental damage can have harmful effects on your health. You’ve probably seen news reports about how poor air quality can contribute to an increase in skin and lung cancers, among other things. But did you know that the environment can also be linked to chronic conditions like Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) and sleep apnea? Dr. Gary Lederman discusses how something as simple as the air we breathe can have a huge impact on our bodies.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, an estimated 10 million Americans suffer from Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders, or TMJ. The disorder can cause a number of problematic symptoms including jaw pain, stiffness and even lock jaw. Dr. Lederman has extensive post-graduate training in neuromuscular dentistry and works with his patients to treat this condition with the best individualized course of treatment. One step in the neuromuscular treatment process that may be beneficial for some patients is TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.

TENS treatments for TMJ are an electric massage used to relax the jaw muscles. Electrodes are attached to the patient’s face to stimulate the facial muscles and nerves. The end goal is full relaxation of the muscles to help your dentist determine proper jaw position. Once your dentist is able to achieve this, he or she can access whether additional treatments are necessary.

TENS treatments also trigger the release of endorphins. Endorphins are your body’s natural pain relieving chemicals, and as such, they often lessen symptoms associated with TMJ.

For many patients, TENS treatment can provide relief of their TMJ-related symptoms. Though patients are initially and painless Patients feel rhythmic taps on their face that may trigger a tingling sensation. The intensity of the treatments can also be adjusted to accommodate the patient’s comfort level.

Whether TENS or another neuromuscular treatment option is the best course of action for TMJ, Dr. Lederman’s patients can rest assured that he will recommend the most appropriate treatment plan. To schedule your consult, contact our office today at 516-882-1764.

Many people experience TMJ symptoms without ever realizing the true source. The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is at the center of the connection between the jaw and the head. Knowing that, it’s easy to understand why dysfunction in the joint can cause so many potential problems.

The most common symptom of TMJD is severe headaches. Many TMJ sufferers confuse these headaches with migraines and treat them with medication. Unfortunately, medicating only masks the larger issue and symptoms will prevail in the long-term. Other TMJ symptoms range from jaw clicking and ringing in the ears to neck, shoulder and back pain. Patients often have a combination of symptoms, making the disorder even more difficult to recognize.

Through neuromuscular testing, we can determine exact points where TMJ problems are occurring. This is done through pads on the skin connected to computerized technology that lets me see muscle and tension issues. We can then begin to explore the best course of action for correcting the patient’s poor jaw position. This process realigns your posture, starting with your head and neck. One of our neuromuscular treatments is a mouthguard that’s used in golf, hockey, basketball, football and other sports that require balance and strength for increased performance.

Do you have questions about Neuromuscular Dentistry? Don’t hesitate to contact us 516-882-1764. We’re here to help!

Many Americans live with migraines and never nail done the root cause. As a result, sufferers end up taking pain medication and making compromises in their daily lives. Headaches can be debilitating, leaving us out of commission for hours at a time. One common explanation for frequent headaches is TMJ disorder.

TMJ is the small but crucial connecting piece between the jaw and the head. If something is out of balance with this joint, all kinds of painful symptoms can occur. TMJ sufferers may experience a combination of one or all symptoms related to jaw, head, neck, shoulder or back pain. The variety of symptoms that can occur in each individual is what makes TMJD difficult to diagnose.

In recent years, dentistry has made advancements in the specialty of jaw and muscle balance. Using neuromuscular testing we can evaluate your muscle position so that we can begin to correct posture. When the muscles are in a comfortable position, symptoms are finally alleviated.

Do you experience any symptoms you think could be related to TMJD? Please don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation by calling 516-882-1764.