4.3
6 Ratings with 4 written Reviews
Summary
About Dr. Parker, DMD: Pioneer in Craniofacial Pain Management
A technical article about Dr. Parker and his work with TMD and TMJ: High
Technology, High Touch Practice in the Treatment of Temporomandibular
Disorders
Dr. Parker's Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Art Parker devotes his practice in Portland, Oregon to patients
with some form of head, jaw and/or facial pain. He has
treated over 10,000 patients and has become recognized in the community
for effective diagnosis, treatment and management of this complex area.
The Great Imposter Disease
The
signs and symptoms associated with TMJ/TMD can be confusing to patients
and physicians alike; it has been known for many years as the “Great
Imposter Disease.â€
It is true that some patients present
with Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction as their sole and only problem.
However the great majority of patients will bring
a “laundry
list†of symptoms that can include, but not be
limited to, headache, facial pain and ear complaints. These patients
…present a more complex diagnostic challenge, as they could be considered
to have a TMD or temporomandibular dysfunction, which can be difficult
to diagnosis correctly. It is truly astounding the journey that
many patients have been on prior to finding our practice; they often
present a long and detailed medical history that involves many physicians,
diagnostic tests and unsuccessful procedures.
Assessment
Assessing the temporomandibular joints is an important part of the diagnosis.
The first sign of problems in those joints is some type of joint noise:
clicking/ popping, cracking. This usually represents an internal derangement
of the articular disk.
I-Cat cone beam tomography/ct scanning
Conventional wisdom has held that unless there is pain involved,
these sounds can be considered to be benign.
More recently we have
come to understand that these joint sounds will usually lead to degeneration
of the condyle. In addition, due to the mechanoreceptors in the
joint capsule, this usually leads to muscle bracing or muscle recruitment
to help stabilize the displaced disk.
Muscles, Headaches, Bad Bites
Headache
One study tracked 953 headache patients for five years. They made
nearly 4,000 visits to doctors in seeking relief from headache.
These
patients went to every conceivable medical specialty but only
8% of those visits were to dentists!
Modern Headache Research has determined that very little difference exists between the classifications of headaches, recognizing that all headaches are ultimately mediated by and involve the Vth cranial nerve, more commonly called the Trigeminal. This is the nerve that that serves the dental system: teeth, tongue, gums, muscles of mastication and the TMJ and importantly, each of the three main branches send a twig back to the somatosensorary pain receptors of the brain’s cortex.
The role of muscles in TMJ/TMD
pain is often misunderstood, underappreciated or outright ignored.
For
example, headache is one of the most common reasons patients visit
a doctor. The medical community has been slow to recognize the value
and importance of dentistry’s contribution to this
area. Dentists and especially those who have been trained in neuromuscular
concepts, recognize that malocclusions (bad bites) are a tremendous
source of muscle tension which often cause face and head pain. A well-trained
dentist who can provide the proper diagnosis and treatment can often
reduce or eliminate these types of headaches.
Correcting Malocclusions
Determining an accurate
prescription for correcting these malocclusions is crucial and will
often make the difference between success and failure.
We
find that many of our patients have previously been fitted for a “night
guard†that
has proven to be of little value in treating their pain. This is
primarily due to not establishing the right treatment position before
sending the prescription to the laboratory. A good analogy is to
that of eye glasses, you can wear an off-the-shelf pair or you go to
the optometrist and have a prescription made for your individual vision
correction. The right
Read More Read less A technical article about Dr. Parker and his work with TMD and TMJ: High
Technology, High Touch Practice in the Treatment of Temporomandibular
Disorders
Dr. Parker's Curriculum Vitae
Dr. Art Parker devotes his practice in Portland, Oregon to patients
with some form of head, jaw and/or facial pain. He has
treated over 10,000 patients and has become recognized in the community
for effective diagnosis, treatment and management of this complex area.
The Great Imposter Disease
The
signs and symptoms associated with TMJ/TMD can be confusing to patients
and physicians alike; it has been known for many years as the “Great
Imposter Disease.â€
It is true that some patients present
with Temporomandibular Joint dysfunction as their sole and only problem.
However the great majority of patients will bring
a “laundry
list†of symptoms that can include, but not be
limited to, headache, facial pain and ear complaints. These patients
…present a more complex diagnostic challenge, as they could be considered
to have a TMD or temporomandibular dysfunction, which can be difficult
to diagnosis correctly. It is truly astounding the journey that
many patients have been on prior to finding our practice; they often
present a long and detailed medical history that involves many physicians,
diagnostic tests and unsuccessful procedures.
Assessment
Assessing the temporomandibular joints is an important part of the diagnosis.
The first sign of problems in those joints is some type of joint noise:
clicking/ popping, cracking. This usually represents an internal derangement
of the articular disk.
I-Cat cone beam tomography/ct scanning
Conventional wisdom has held that unless there is pain involved,
these sounds can be considered to be benign.
More recently we have
come to understand that these joint sounds will usually lead to degeneration
of the condyle. In addition, due to the mechanoreceptors in the
joint capsule, this usually leads to muscle bracing or muscle recruitment
to help stabilize the displaced disk.
Muscles, Headaches, Bad Bites
Headache
One study tracked 953 headache patients for five years. They made
nearly 4,000 visits to doctors in seeking relief from headache.
These
patients went to every conceivable medical specialty but only
8% of those visits were to dentists!
Modern Headache Research has determined that very little difference exists between the classifications of headaches, recognizing that all headaches are ultimately mediated by and involve the Vth cranial nerve, more commonly called the Trigeminal. This is the nerve that that serves the dental system: teeth, tongue, gums, muscles of mastication and the TMJ and importantly, each of the three main branches send a twig back to the somatosensorary pain receptors of the brain’s cortex.
The role of muscles in TMJ/TMD
pain is often misunderstood, underappreciated or outright ignored.
For
example, headache is one of the most common reasons patients visit
a doctor. The medical community has been slow to recognize the value
and importance of dentistry’s contribution to this
area. Dentists and especially those who have been trained in neuromuscular
concepts, recognize that malocclusions (bad bites) are a tremendous
source of muscle tension which often cause face and head pain. A well-trained
dentist who can provide the proper diagnosis and treatment can often
reduce or eliminate these types of headaches.
Correcting Malocclusions
Determining an accurate
prescription for correcting these malocclusions is crucial and will
often make the difference between success and failure.
We
find that many of our patients have previously been fitted for a “night
guard†that
has proven to be of little value in treating their pain. This is
primarily due to not establishing the right treatment position before
sending the prescription to the laboratory. A good analogy is to
that of eye glasses, you can wear an off-the-shelf pair or you go to
the optometrist and have a prescription made for your individual vision
correction. The right
Quick Facts
- 4 written reviews
- 2 specialties
- 9 areas of expertise
- 1 office location
- Male
Office Location
Compare with Similar Providers
 |  |  |  |
| Dr. Arthur L Parker, DDS | Dr James Kiser, DDS | Dr Derek Weigand, DMD | Dr. Nathan Stephen Doyel, DMD, FAAID, DABOI/ID |
| Dentistry | Dentistry | Dentistry | Dentistry |
| Accepts New Patients | Accepts New Patients | Accepts New Patients | |
| 29 Years of Experience | 13 Years of Experience | 29 Years of Experience | |
| No Virtual Visit Option | Virtual Visit Available | Virtual Visit Available | No Virtual Visit Option |
| Speaks Spanish, English | Speaks Spanish, English | Speaks English, American Sign Language (ASL) | |
| PORTLAND , OR | Baton Rouge , LA | Juneau , AK | Sherwood , OR |
| Med School: LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY | Med School: Midwestern School of Dental Medicine | Med School: Oregon Health & Science University School Of Medicine | |
Current Profile | View Profile | View Profile | View Profile |
Insurance Plans Accepted by Dr. Arthur L Parker
Be sure to verify insurance information directly with your doctor's office, as it may undergo frequent changes.
Medical Specialties
Dr. Arthur L Parker has the following 2 specialties
Specialty Expertise
Dr. Arthur L Parker has the following 9 areas of expertise
Certifications, License, & Education
MEDICAL LICENSE
Doctor Of Dental Surgery, Oregon, Inactive
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Dr. Arthur Parker's office located?
- Dr. Arthur Parker's office is located at 123 NE 3RD AVE STE 445, PORTLAND, OR, 97232.
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