Dr. Roubal's Omaha, Nebraska blog

Omaha, Nebraska

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Snowstorm and Pain from Shoveling

We have had a really big snowstorm in Omaha - a real headache for citizens and government as well. Snow piled so high, it is difficult to see around the corners while driving. People shoveling out often get generalized pain from the extra work out. This can lead to headaches due to neck strain and from jaw clinching due to the workout pain. We can clench our jaw due to pain experienced anywhere in our body. Take it easy out there, rest up and take some anti inflammatories to feel better. Better yet, hire the next door kid or your kids to do the hard work. Their young bodies can handle the extra exercise better!

Yours for better health, Dr. Roubal

posted by Dr. Roubal at 1:01 PM

Headaches

Probably the most common complaint I head when speaking to new patients. Almost never a stand alone symptom, but cant be at the top of the severity for the patient. We usually see neck pain, ear issues, and some problems with jaw movement, but not always. Most of their patients have been to many physicians for the help, but get prescriptions for the symptoms only. No one gets to the cause of the symptom. This is my underlying thought always ---> get to the bottom of the problem and "fix" that.

Yours for better health, Dr. Roubal

posted by Dr. Roubal at 12:43 PM

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Headache

I just had a patient who had been treated many years ago. She has had a long history of tooth clenching. I had made her a night time (sleep) appliance to wear to counter act this habit. She recently went on a trip and didn't protect it in a case and the appliance was broken. Since she now lives in Denver, she had her local dentist make her a night mouth guard (the dentist did not understand the design of what I had made). Anyway, my patient started getting her headaches again. She went back to the dentist and they said it was ok. She then flew back to see me, we made her a new appliance to the original design and now her headaches are gone. Moral of the story - protect any oral appliance that works for you and if one has headaches that don't clear up with a typical mouth guard, do not despair; get one made properly for the specific problem.

posted by Dr. Roubal at 5:18 PM

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Tooth Wear and Pain

Why is there concern about tooth wear, isn't it just about the teeth? Toothwear could be a sign of sleep apnea, which often results in morning headaches. Tooth wear can also be a sign of tooth/jaw mal-relationship. Tooth grinding and clinching can lead to headaches, jaw, ear, neck, and facial pain because of over worked muscles. So, if you, or a loved one has tooth wear this could be a sign of a more serious underlying problem. The common mouthguard made by most dentists protect the teeth, but its underlying cause is not being correct.

Yours for better health, Dr. Roubal

posted by Dr. Roubal at 3:43 PM

Friday, December 11, 2009

Other Headaches Treatments

We add in house therapies as needed for pain or dysfunction issues. These can include ultrasound, cold laser, micro current, muscle therapy, injections of special medications that allow chronic problems to heal, and other treatments that are based on individual needs. I do not use the same approach for treatment for everyone. Each patient comes in with a different set of problems and I have an individual treatment plan for each one. One thing in consistent, is something isn't working as well as we think it should, we do something else. The tool bag has to be big enough to have many treatment options. This is the advantage of having 30 years of experience and knowing doctors all over the world who I can consult with.

Yours for better health, Dr. Roubal

posted by Dr. Roubal at 11:49 AM

Treating Headaches without Drugs

Overworked and over tired muscles can lead to a number of ailments such as headaches, neck, ear, and jaw pain. People can suffer from migraines and sleep apnea as well. Often postural problems are evident with complaints of back and joint pain. Maybe the jaw won't open very much or maybe it locks closed or open. I evaluate the patient clinically and establish a neuromuscular bite position. If the new bite position takes care of most or all of the symptoms, then one can safely assume the jaw position is the cause of the problems. Treat the cause and the need for the drug goes away.

Yours for better health, Dr. Roubal

posted by Dr. Roubal at 11:36 AM

Friday, December 4, 2009

Headaches and Misaligned Bites

If you are suffering from headaches, migraines, neck, ear, or jaw pain it might be related to how your teeth fit together. We swallow 2000-3000 times per day and our teeth touch together when we swallow. If our muscles are over worked in trying to keep our jaws related better, so our teeth fit together better during swallowing, you can understand why this can result in pain such as headaches. I determine the proper jaw position via neuromuscular techniques. An oral appliance is constructed to align the jaws properly, so they teeth fit together properly and the typical result is a reduction or elimination of pain.

Yours for better health, Dr. Roubal

posted by Dr. Roubal at 1:02 PM

Finding the Cause

Unfortunately, health care professionals, driven by the constraints of time and money are typically not able to dedicate the time necessary to dig into the basis (cause) of the symptoms. Professionals are limited in their exposure to new ideas and procedures, examinations, technology, ect. because they often love to use their own time and resources to learn. Most insurance companies do not reimburse for these new ideas/procedures, so new knowledge is often left abandoned. Physicians and dentists do not get extra reimbursement to learn and practice the latest techniques. Unfortunately when doctors are not rewarded to learn and practice the best and latest, it becomes apparent why the status quo continues. It is easier and faster to write prescriptions. Traditionally, dentists are not adequately educated in dental schools to treat beyond the teeth. There is so much to learn about the mouth and teeth, the materials, and engineering principles, it takes up the entire four years of dental school. It is no wonder there are so few dentists and other professionals who are educated and experienced in finding the cause of the problem.

Yours for better health, Dr. Roubal

posted by Dr. Roubal at 12:54 PM

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