Today’s episode is likely going to be an eye-opener for most people, as you may find out that you could possibly have a problem with your jaw.. also known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction which is TMD or TMJD for short.

On this episode I interview Dr. Steven Schluentz who is one of the most elite Doctors in the United States when it comes to TMJD and TMD related issues. Things like clicking in the jaw, grinding your teeth, painful jaws, neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, poor sleep, sleep apnea, restricted breathing, difficulty swallowing and even having frequent cavities could mean you have TMJD.

We discuss how Chiropractors and Dentists work very close with each other to make sure people get the best care possible. This is because we know poor neck curvatures and posture can affect jaw function and vice versa.

This and so much more will be covered in the show today. Now on this episode, there are things you likely have never heard before and won’t hear anywhere else, but hey that’s what this show is about right? So Get ready to lock in for the next hour because Dr. Schluentz is going to rock your world with his wealth of knowledge and clinical expertise. 

 

Dr. Steven Schluentz:

 

2:23 - Dr. Schluentz discusses what Temporomandibular Joint and Temporomandibular Dysfunction. Which is TMJ/TMD for short.

 

3:38 – Dr. Schluentz talks about how to treat jaw pain and TMD. He speaks about how many of the current treatments of TMD aren’t really addressing the issue. He recommends using a customized orthotic. He also speaks to how these orthotics even help with headaches, neck pain and shoulder pain.

 

8:52 – Dr. Schluentz and I discuss how Chiropractors and Dentists work together and refer patients to each other for many conditions like headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, shoulder pain because we know the neck and jaw are very interrelated.

 

10:15 – Dr. Schluentz touches on how Chiropractors are his go-to providers because the medical model is not conducive to true health. He discusses how the disease model of medicine is all that anyone knows. Drugs and surgery are not something that is always necessary. Health is something someone must understand as a lifestyle, not just the absence of disease. Dr. Schluentz speaks

 

15:00 – Dr. Schluentz talks about hidden symptoms that someone may not know are directly related to having a dysfunctional jaw. Things like not breathing properly, lethargy, poor sleep and even tooth wearing. He talks about the shape of your teeth can be indicative of an unhealthy jaw. As we age our teeth are not meant to wear out, despite popular belief. He speaks about trying out the laughing test to see if your muscles are too weak to support your jaw.

 

21:22 – Dr. Schluentz talks about how processed foods and diet has radically changed the shape of our jaws and teeth. He talks about how mal-occlusions have been created due to the poor health choices we have created. Orthotropics was created to study the change of peoples oral hygiene based off lifestyle choices.

 

25:20 – Dr. Schluentz talks about how dairy from USA is not allowed into Ireland because it is considered toxic. He discusses how he felt after eating foods in Ireland compared to eating foods inside the USA. It opened his mind to hidden symptoms that he did not know was going on inside his body.

 

28:30 – Dr. Schluentz speaks about how your teeth should never hurt. If it does, then that means this is a really bad sign. He discusses how a lot of the time a patient won’t have pain or discomfort in their jaw, but they have an obvious misalignment. However, Dr. Schluentz will see that after he fixes their alignment, they will have better eyesight, sleep, breathing, swallowing and decrease in tension through the entire face and neck.

 

31:55- Dr. Schluentz talks about how he uses a Cone Beam CT scan of the sinuses, jaw, face and neck to objectively measure why someone is likely having jaw pain and dysfunction.

 

34:45 – Dr. Schluentz talks about how to help Dentists and patients understand why having healthy jaws and teeth is huge. He also explains how many Dentists and patients fail to communicate properly so both parties can get the best care possible.

 

38:20 – Dr. Schluentz advises you to go find someone who specializes in TMJD and that everyone should get a sleep study done even if you don’t have symptoms right now. Dentists are now at the forefront of sleep apnea because they are the physicians looking for these pathologies.

 

41:02 – Dr. Schluentz covers who is more likely to get TMJD and what leads to getting TMJD. He covers that people who have been in car accidents or any kind of traumatic injury are likely to have TMJD. Those who get cavities easier than most are likely at risk for TMD or already have it. Stress can lead to a person having a higher risk of TMD, but it isn’t the cause of it. If you have an airway issue, then you are likely to have TMD.

 

45:00 – Dr. Schluentz gives advice for those looking to get into dentistry and covers the model of care that a future physician resonates with. He talks about by getting into a specialty of dentistry will determine which path you will likely choose. Dr. Schluentz loves occlusion care and helping people with TMJD, while most dentists hate it. So find your space inside of dentistry.  

 

 49:40 – Dr. Schluentz talks about how he helps other business owners become successful and stay successful through creating relationships. He talks about how he always interviews patients before he accepts them for care which is very unlike any other new patient experience. The person and patient should be treated like a human, not like another number. The patient should feel like they belong. Dr. Schluentz talks about what the most successful people on the planet do and how they think.

 

56:00 – I talk about how our office makes sure that the new patient experience is the foundation for creating amazing patients from the first day they walk into the office. Dr. Schluentz adds to why creating an amazing environment for patients is vitally important to be successful and to establishing lasting relationships. He says that the more profitable you can be by creating great relationships, the more people you can serve and help. It is not about volume, it is always about service first.

 

1:00:56 – If he could eat anything for his last meal: Bacon Cheeseburger, Beer and Loaded Cherry NOS.

 

1:01:50 – If he could travel anywhere in the world in last week of life: Go to parents place and family for 1 day, would try to find a way to go to the moon and spend final 6 days on the moon.

 

1:02:52 – One piece of advice for anyone who wants to live a better life would be: Be very clear and intentional on your purpose for being on this planet. Don’t work for money, work for your passion. Find out what makes you happy and make money doing that.

 

Dr. Steven Schluentz:

 

Dentists Go Listen To His Podcast:

Dental Practice Freedom Radio

 

Patients or Dentists Looking For Help:

https://www.mountainskydental.com

[email protected]

 

 

Dr. TJ Woodham:

Grab your FREE copy of The Unleashed Human Book: www.theunleashedhuman.com/unleashed

 

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