Orofacial Pain Specialist
Chronic oral pain is frustrating at best, debilitating at worst. It’s also extremely common. Statistics tell us that as many as 12 percent of Americans suffer from chronic head, face, or neck pain each year. Unfortunately, only about half of them get treated. Help is available but patients should choose their provider carefully.
Misdiagnosis Happens
One of the most common sources of this pain is TMJ, i.e., pain of the temporomandibular joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull. Unfortunately, the cause of TMJ is widely misunderstood. Yet, dentists without the proper training or understanding may offer dental crowns, braces, and other treatments as potential solutions for a patient’s chronic oral pain. It’s only after the treatment concludes and discomfort continues that patients may realize their pain was misdiagnosed.
Visit an Orofacial Pain Specialist Instead
Mirhamid Salek, DDS, our primary dentist, is an orofacial pain specialist. As such, not only can he accurately diagnose chronic pain in the head, face, and neck areas, but he can also help to prevent unnecessary dental treatment. Dr. Salek has seen numerous patients who have lost their teeth, had root canals, crowns, bridges, or orthodontic treatment when it wasn’t required. In some cases, these treatments even made the patient’s chronic pain worse.
Had these patients visited Dr. Salek first, they may have been prescribed a simple night guard instead of the more complex and expensive treatment. A night guard protects patients from the involuntary teeth grinding that’s sometimes responsible for orofacial pain.
A-Z Dental Care
Dr. Salek is a leading dentist in West Covina and the only American Board of Orofacial Pain diplomate in the West Covina area. Dr. Salek and his team at A-Z Dental Care admit patients with chronic pain like neuralgia, neuropathy, burning mouth syndrome, TMJ, and myofascial or other long-lasting types of pain that are not caused by tooth damage.
If you are interested in pain treatment from a doctor skilled in providing accurate diagnoses and effective treatment, call A-Z Dental Care at the number on your screen. You can also visit our appointments page to get in touch with us online.