Chicago Holistic Treatment Of Migraines: Neuromuscular Dentistry Can Offer A Drug Free Alternative

March 23, 2010 - PRLog -- Living with Migraines can change personalities, family and personal relationships, and have numerous adverse medical consequences.  These adverse consequences can be from the disease itself or from the medications used to treat the migraines.

THE IDEAL HOLISTIC TREATMENT OF MIGRAINES WILL BE CORRECTION OF THE UNDERLYING CONDITION THAT CAUSES THE MIGRAINES.

Migraines are primarily a disorder of the Trigeminal Nervous System and the Trigeminovascular effects on the brain.  Treatment  and prevention of Migraine can be done utilizing medications or by correction (removal of pathology)  of noxious input into the central nervous system.  An excellent resource for understanding these concepts can be found at http://www.ihateheadaches.org.  

The Trigeminal Nerve contributes approximately half of all input to the brain and is also known as the fifth (V) cranial nerve and is often referred to as the dentist's nerve because it goes to the teeth, jaw muscles, jaw joints (TMJ, TM Joint, Temporomandibular Joint) , periodontal ligament, the tonngue and oral tissues.  The Trigeminal Nerve also controls the blood flow in the meninges of the anterior of the brain. This is underlying reason the Trigeminal nerve is usually the culprit when migraines exist.  In addition the Trigeminal nerve innervates the tensor of the ear drum (tensor veli palatini) that can cause tinnitus, the tensor of the soft palate (tensor veli palatini) that opens and closes the eustacian tube and can cause ear pain, pressure in the ears and other ear and sinus problems, the lining of the sinuses and the anterior two thirds of the tongue.

Noxious input from the Trigeminal Nerve to the Central Nervous System (CNS) results in chemical changes it the brain that cause migraines, chronic daily headaches (CDH), Episodic tension-type headaches (ETTH), Sinus headaches and many other chronic pain disorders.  Neural plasticity creates a state of central sensitization that can lead to insomnia, fibromyalgia, RSD or CRPS as well.  

Neuromuscular Dentistry can frequently alleviate and eliminate these problems over time.  All patients with migraines should read "SUFFER NO MORE: DEALING WITH THE GREAT IMPOSTER" http://www.sleepandhealth.com/story/suffer-no-more-dealin...

An excellent artice on Neuromuscular Dentistry  (http://www.sleepandhealth.com/neuromuscular-dentistry)is also available in Sleep and Health Journal.

Patients looking for a holistic approach to treating migraine by eliminating noxious neural input utilizing neuromuscular dental techniques can contact Dr Ira L Shapira at http://www.sleepandhealth.com/neuromuscular-dentistry or call 847-623-5530.  Dr Shapira 's primary office is in Gurnee but he is also seeing patients in the offices of  Chicagoland Dental Sleep Medicine Associates (http://www.chicagoland.ihatecpap.com/).

Patients utilizing  neuromuscular dental treatment to  eliminate or alleviate migraines are often frustrated by poor coverage by medical insurance.  This persists even though a recent published study in Cranio by Dr Barry Cooper showed "overwhelming success" with neuromuscular dental treatment.  Another series of articles in Cranio Journal by Shimshak et al showed that patients with TMJ disorders had a 300% increase in medical expenses in all fields except obstetrics.

Dr Shapira is a representative to the Alliance of TMD Organizations  from ICCMO (The International College of CranioMandibular Orthopedics) which is working to change insurance company policies.

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I HATE HEADACHES LLC provides information on Neuromuscular Dental Treatment of headaches and migraines. I HATE CPAP LLC provides information on Dental Sleep Medicine and alternative to CPAP for patients who are CPAP intolerant. The website http://www.ihatecpap.com has valuable information on treating sleep apnea utilizing oral appliances.