Patient
Education and Home Care Program:
This program enables patients to have a sense of self control.
For this purpose ice, heat, electrical anesthesia (T.E.N.S.) and
acupressure
and relaxation training are the mainstays of a home care program.
Spray and stretch of muscles and range of motion of the affected
part is also beneficial. Electronic anesthesia should be used before
and after to reduce pain and relax the part, to allow for better
range of motion.
Pharmacotherapy:
Involving NSAIDs, analgesics, anti-anxiety and anti-depressant
agents, muscle relaxants are commonly used. Other neurologic or
psychogenic medications may be prescribed by the appropriate specialist.
T.E.N.S.
(Electronic Anesthesia):
Useful in reduction of pain on an ongoing basis during treatments.
Orthopedic
Appliance Therapy: Commonly used where musculoskeletal
problems related to the masticatory system are suspected. Appliances
help relax muscles, stabilize the temporomandibular joints and
recapture some discs while normalizing maxillo-mandibular relationships.
Physical Therapy: Exercise,
posture training and other sources of functional restoration are helpful
in any musculoskeletal problem.
It is also useful in pain reduction and rehabilitation.
Trigger
Point and Joint Injections: Trigger point injections are done
for joint pain and for musculoskeletal pain and dysfunctions. Many
muscular trigger points can refer pain to the teeth.
Dental Occlusal Correction:
As required to stabilize masticatory functions.
Medical
and Psychological Interventions for Orofacial Pain: Neuralgic pains such as trigeminal
neuralgia, deafferentation pains, chronic regional pain syndrome,
and other orofacial pains of neuralgic origin are treated with
multispeciality medical, dental, and psychological interventions.
