Life Lessons: Migraine pain relief

 

Did you ever think you'd go to your dentist for migraine relief? There's a new treatment for headache pain that involves a few trips to the dentist, without any needles or medications.

This new treatment is being used for migraine pain, TMJ, as well as chronic neck and shoulder pain. So why is the dentist involved? The belief is that the way your teeth come together can be the root cause of pain and that can be treated.

It's called TruDenta and it employs many techniques that have been used in sports medicine for several years and applies them to dentomandibular sensorimotor dysfunction, a complex condition involving the muscles of the head, neck and jaw. It is designed to help patients dealing with pain related to temporomandibular joint pain, chronic headaches and migraines, vertigo, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

We visited Dr. Mary Cresseveur-Reed, DDS, FAGD, with a dental practice in Coopersburg, PA. Dr. Cresseveur-Reed has a dedicated space in her office for Trudenta treaments.

"We are connected. We are one piece and if we can get the muscles in balance, if we can get the spine and posture appropriate, it allows us to balance the bite, it allow us to balance the mandible and we are one balanced person again," says Dr. Cresseveur-Reed.

The space looks more like a luxury spa than a dentist's office. Melissa Lincoln, RDH, DMRT, PHDH,is trained in the Trudenta procedure. She says the system uses some of the practices of sports medicine including cold laser therapy to decrease inflammation, ultrasound therapy, physical therapy and some home exercises over the course of about 12 weeks.

"It's physical thereapy for your head neck and shoulders," says Melissa.

Melissa first found out about Trudenta when she tried it for chronic pain that resulted from a car accident five years ago and the 14 surgeries that followed. "I went through this treatment, I'm no longer in pain. I don't miss out on anything anymore and that's what I want to give to my patients. I want to give them their life back," says Melissa.

Patients like Jen Ceneviva of Bethlehem, who after nine weeks under Melissa's care, has been able to wean off of almost all of her migraine medication. "I wake up in the morning without pain. I get through my day without pain. I don't have to cut a day short. I can spend more time with my kids and I have a lot more energy," says Jen.

A migraine sufferer herself, Dr. Mary Cresseveur-Reed says she wanted to find a way to help herself and her patients that didn't involve surgery or medicine.

She says most patients require about 8-10 weekly sessions that last for about an hour. Some will also be fit with a mouth orthotic.

Patients are also given a series of exercises and stretches to do as part of a daily one-hour self-treatment home care.

Dr. Reed says this treatment falls under the physical therapy umbrella and is covered by medication insurance instead of dental insurance. For information, go to http://www.marycresseveurreeddds.com or visit http://www.trudenta.com.

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