Open UP: A TMJ Discussion

Why are so many kids’ teeth coming in crooked? And should parents wait until age 7 or 8 to have their child evaluated?In this episode of Open Up: A TMJ Discussion, Pamela Marzban and Mac Lee discuss jaw development, crowded baby teeth, mouth breathing, tongue-tie, and why some dentists consider early orthodontic evaluation.They talk about what parents can look for as their child grows, how the tongue plays a role in oral development, and why identifying the underlying cause of crowding matters when planning treatment.They also tackle a question that sparks plenty of debate in dentistry: when a child’s teeth don’t have enough room, should we make room or wait and see?If you're a parent wondering whether your child will grow out of crowded teeth, this conversation is worth a listen.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.🎧 Podcast Video:

Why do some people grind their teeth for years and barely have any pain, while others have severe TMJ pain without much tooth wear?In this episode, Pamela and Mac talk about what may actually be going on when your jaw hurts. They get into bite, muscles, grinding, stress, headaches, and why two people with very different dental wear can have completely different symptoms.They also share real patient stories involving headaches, jaw pain, grinding, stress, orthotics, and TENS and how looking at both the jaw and the person can change the way you approach treatment.Plus, they talk about a bigger question in dentistry: are we looking at the teeth too much, or are we missing what’s happening with the jaws and airway?No simple answers, just a real conversation about TMJ pain and why it can be so complicated.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.🎧 Podcast Video: https://youtu.be/ZSfDhdrToqY?si=W7mWRiuKE5_-tNOT

What does menopause have to do with TMJ and sleep apnea? More than many women realize.In this episode of Open Up: A TMJ Discussion, Pamela and Mac explore the connection between menopause, TMD/TMJ pain, and sleep apnea and why symptoms in women can sometimes be overlooked or attributed to stress, hormones, or simply “getting older.”They discuss why women, particularly during the menopausal years, may experience changes in sleep, jaw pain, headaches, clenching, and other symptoms that deserve a closer look.They also talk about:• The connection between TMD and sleep apnea• Why sleep apnea isn't just a problem for overweight men• How hormonal changes may intersect with sleep and pain• Why women with headaches, jaw pain, or poor sleep may need more than a stress-related explanation• The role of sleep studies, CT/CBCT imaging, and EMG testing• Why looking at both the TMJ and airway can be important• Differences in how men and women tend to seek care and advocate for their health• Why comprehensive evaluation matters before assuming you know the cause of someone's symptomsIf you're a woman experiencing poor sleep, jaw pain, headaches, clenching, or changes around menopause, this conversation may give you some important questions to bring to your healthcare providers.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.🎧 Podcast Video:

What if the way you breathe every day is affecting your sleep, your jaw, your facial development and your overall health?In this episode of Open Up: A TMJ Discussion, Dr. Pamela Marzban sits down with internationally recognized breathing expert Patrick McKeown, author of The Oxygen Advantage and a leading voice in Buteyko breathing.Patrick explains why nasal breathing matters, how mouth breathing can affect sleep and craniofacial development, and why CO₂ is essential for getting oxygen to your tissues. They also discuss the connection between dysfunctional breathing, sleep apnea, anxiety, airway health, and dental problems.You’ll learn:    •    Why chronic mouth breathing can impact the teeth, jaw, airway, and sleep    •    The surprising role of CO₂ in oxygen delivery    •    Why “more breathing” doesn't necessarily mean more oxygen    •    How nasal breathing can help regulate the nervous system    •    The connection between breathing patterns and sleep apnea    •    Why children are especially important to intervene with early    •    How breathing re-education can complement dental and airway treatment    •    Patrick’s approach to mouth taping and the development of MyotapeThis conversation brings together breathing science, dentistry, sleep, and craniofacial development to answer one important question:Are we overlooking breathing as a critical part of health?🎙️ Watch the full episode of Open Up: A TMJ Discussion on Youtube.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.🎧 Podcast Video: https://youtu.be/AvMYBBIgwIg?is=hDCfkG9aCFRvpZC9

Is jaw clicking normal? Can stress really cause TMJ? Will a night guard fix the problem? And why do some people with TMD never actually have jaw pain?In this episode, Dr. Pamela Marzban and Mac break down some of the most common misconceptions about TMJ and TMD and explain why many patients go years without getting the right diagnosis.They discuss why clicking and popping can be signs of dysfunction, why a night guard may protect your teeth without addressing the underlying problem, and why stress may be making symptoms worse without necessarily being the root cause.They also talk about the many ways TMD can show up outside of the jaw, including headaches, migraines, dizziness, neck pain, and other symptoms that can send patients from doctor to doctor searching for answers.The conversation goes deeper into what a properly functioning jaw should look like, how bite and muscle coordination can affect the joint, and why diagnosing TMD requires specialized knowledge and a thorough understanding of how the jaw functions.If you've been told your TMJ symptoms are “just stress,” that clicking is “normal,” or that a night guard is all you need, this episode may change the way you look at your symptoms.Dr. Marzban and Mac also discuss how to find clinicians with specialized training in TMD and preview their upcoming conversation about the connection between airway and TMJ.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.Book and Podcast Info:📚 Books by Dr. Mac Lee and Dr. Pam Marzban: Life-Robbing Pain: TMD by Dr.  Mac LeeThe TMJ Trifecta: Solving Your Pain Puzzle by Dr. Mac LeeCraniofacial Development by Dr. Pamela Marzban.🎧 Podcast Video: https://youtu.be/uk7l5FtQdZc?is=xyeQ0vAPPbSTk34S