For people living with chronic orofacial pain, quick and appropriate treatment is paramount and can be cost-saving. According to a study conducted in the United Kingdom and published in the Journal of Dental Research, "screening patients with a well-established graded chronic pain scale could ensure that those most severely affected immediately receive specialist care -- saving money." [1] While these findings are specific to the UK and highlight disparities in treatment modalities within that part of the world, the results are still valid and may be used to better develop and improve the U.S.’s current system of care.

Scuba diving may be the unsuspecting culprit behind several dental problems. This water-based recreational activity is exhilarating for participants and has grown in popularity. Per the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), the world’s leading scuba diver training organization, it has issued more than 24 million certifications around the world. But while millions of people are taking a dive into open waters, some of those people are reporting experiencing dental problems after their deep-sea adventure. According to research conducted by the University of Buffalo, the new pilot study found that 41% of divers experienced dental symptoms. Dental issues are rarely considered a factor in the scuba diving process, but considering this new information, divers may find that consulting with their dentist prior to their excursions could be beneficial.

A properly aligned smile is no doubt nice to look at, but the functionality and health behind it are what matters most. Crooked teeth or an uneven grin can do a number on your self-confidence, but it can also be detrimental. A misaligned bite can actually wreak havoc on your health.

A misaligned bite is also referred to as a dental malocclusion, which is the misalignment or improper positioning of the teeth and jaws that can affect the bite. If left untreated, it can lead to any of the following issues or conditions:

With recent studies suggesting a link between vitamin D deficiency and a host of conditions and ailments, it is becoming even clearer how crucial vitamin D is to overall health. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), between 2001–2006, two-thirds of the population (roughly 67%) was vitamin D deficient. The human body needs vitamin D for a variety of reasons, but most importantly, vitamin D is necessary for the body to adequately absorb calcium and promote bone growth. While people can obtain a moderate amount of vitamin D through their diet by consuming certain foods, vitamin D derived from diet alone is not enough to sustain the human body. Too little vitamin D can quickly become problematic for babies and adults alike.

For patients living with Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), the pleasure of eating a favorite meal can quickly become a distant memory. Because the pain associated with TMJ can often limit the kinds of foods patients can consume, eating can quickly become a painful burden. Patients must change their diet in an effort to alleviate their pain, and that diet is often limited in scope. Dr. Buck specializes in treating patients with TMJ by utilizing a neuromuscular and epigenetics approach to treatment modalities.Because TMJ affects the muscles and joints that are responsible for chewing, TMJ often causes patients to rethink their food choices. Those food choices often become contingent on the patient’s ability to open their mouth, chew or swallow. Many foods can be difficult and even impossible for patients with TMJ to consume as a result of the associated pain or discomfort. If you’re currently experiencing a painful TMJ flare-up, steer clear of these troublesome foods:

• Raw vegetables • Hard, chewy bread like baguettes, bagels or bread with nuts and seeds• Chips• Popcorn• Nuts• Steak or other chewy meats• Processed foods with refined sugar• Foods high in salicylates such as tomatoes, hot peppers, and olives. (Salicylates have been shown to aggravate TMJ symptoms for some people, especially those with an allergy or sensitivity to it.)

When sleeping becomes difficult or interrupted for children as a result of sleep apnea, this serious disruption could lead to equally serious issues such a depression or behavioral problems. A good night’s rest is crucial for everyone, but it is especially important for children, whose minds and bodies are developing at rapid rates. A child who suffers from sleep apnea will experience interrupted breathing and disrupted sleep and is unable to obtain adequate rest. Too little sleep can have dire health consequences and can lead to depression.

With basketball and football season in full swing, athletes are expected to perform their best, but recent research suggests that dental malocclusions could impact posture, balance, and athletic performance. A straight and properly aligned smile is more than just cosmetic; it’s healthy and functional in more ways than one. According to two new studies conducted by the Department of Physiology at the University of Barcelona in Spain and the University of Innsbruck in Austria, researchers have confirmed a link between a misaligned bite and postural control. It may seem like a stretch that researchers have found a correlation between the two, but it’s not too surprising once you understand the anatomical logistics.

Oral health and development are impacted by many things, but over the past few years, experts suggest that lifestyle and diet have a very substantial effect. Different foods and textures change the shape, growth and trajectory of the human mouth and jaw, and it is not always for the better. In a 2011 study conducted by the Department of Anthropology and School of Anthropology and Conservation at the University of Kent in the United Kingdom, the findings confirm a definitive difference in jaw and mouth shape between people from different cultures and societies. While most people may assume the differences are genetically-based, researchers attribute these differences to outside factors, such as diet and lifestyle.

More than 18 million adults in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea, and while it’s a condition that can’t be 100% prevented, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk. Sleep apnea is a condition where a person’s breathing is interrupted during sleep, and it’s one Dr. Buck sees in many of his patients. When this happens, the body and brain aren’t getting the oxygen they need to function properly, so it’s easy to see how this disorder can quickly become life-threatening if left untreated. Sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of developing sleep apnea.

Nasal breathing and proper posture can impact a child’s long-term health, and practicing yoga may be the key to unlocking the benefits of these techniques. Yoga has been around for thousands of years and provides many physical and mental benefits. From professional athletes like LeBron James to Aaron Rogers to big-time celebrities like Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake, practitioners the world over have reaped the endless benefits of yoga. With many studios now offering kids yoga classes, this ancient practice is drawing attention from parents who want their children to experience all that yoga has to offer. The American Osteopathic Association lists increased flexibility, increased energy levels, chronic stress relief and sharpened concentration as several yoga benefits. But another benefit that’s often overlooked is how yoga helps promote healthy nasal breathing and proper posture. While nasal breathing and posture are important at any age, the two are especially crucial for young children.

For people suffering from chronic migraines, neuromuscular dentistry may provide some much-needed relief. According to recent data from the Migraine Research Foundation, an estimated 38 million women, men and children suffer from migraines. Contrary to popular belief, a migraine isn’t just a really bad headache. In fact, it’s a serious neurological disease and is the third most prevalent illness in the world. Migraines are often painful and debilitating and can last anywhere between 4 and 72 hours, severely impacting a person’s everyday life. For most people, daily medication is the only way to manage the pain and attacks. But for some, medication doesn’t provide much, if any, relief. That’s why more and more people are turning to dentistry in the hopes of unlocking the key to migraine relief. But how exactly does dentistry play a role in treating migraines? As it turns out, a lesser known form of dentistry called neuromuscular dentistry is helping people suffering from migraines find relief without the use of pain medication.

Early introduction of solids to infant children may provide more oral and developmental benefits. There’s been much dispute on the timing of introducing solids as well the best "first" foods for infants. While pediatricians used to recommend rice cereal as baby’s first solid, new recommendations suggest a healthy mix of fruits, vegetables and even meats to get baby off to a good start. Experts say that rice cereal has no nutritional value and can be hard on a baby’s developing digestive system. Additionally, since it doesn’t require a baby to chew, they aren’t working their oral muscles at all. The nutritional, developmental and oral benefits to healthy solids far supersede the "old school" recommendation of rice cereal, and many pediatricians, as well as dentists, are now recommending these first solids for precisely those reasons.