Houston TMJ Dentist, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF saw the article in USA Today which discusses Chronic Pain as Healthcare Crisis. Interestingly, there was no mention of TMJ pain and how it can also cause neck pain, shoulder pain, and even migraine headaches. TMJ is a chronic pain that can be truly debilitating and if it was mentioned may have been able to help some individuals who read the article. It is an excellent article in all other regards.
Some facts pointed out:
-100 million: number of American Adults with chronic pain
-$560-$635 billion dollars: annual cost of chronic pain in the US
-9 Hours: median number of pain education US medical students receive in 4 years medical school
Those who have TMJ pain will certainly add to the above facts. The number of hours most dental school curriculums have on TMJ is probably close to the medical training for chronic pain.
TMJ mimics many medical issues and is often overlooked and not diagnosed. This is sad as most cases can be treated non-surgically and changes the quality of patients’ lives. If you have questions about Houston TMJ and its related symptoms, please feel free to contact our office, Ronald W. Konig DDS, FAGD, LVIF 713-668-2289
