Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Referring a Patient for IPT (Integrative Postural Therapy)
We are often asked two questions: what is IPT (Integrative Postural Therapy), and once I have identified that my patient needs that integrated care, what tips could you give me for referring a patient for IPT? IPT (Integrative Postural Therapy) is the combined patient care of dentistry + physical therapy, founded by Elizabeth Caughey DDS…
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Caughey & Cantrell teach IPT in Apex, NC
After three years of practicing dentistry and physical therapy side by side, Elizabeth Caughey DDS & Mike Cantrell MPT PRC teach their inaugural two day IPT (Integrative Physical Therapy) course in Apex NC. In attendance were 8 dentists and 7 physical therapists – including a pediatric dentists and pediatric PT, and one physical therapy student!…
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Tongue Tie surgery Improves Growth and Development; could prevent TMJ and Sleep Apnea!
Tongue tie surgery can be life altering; it can promote a young person’s growth and development. The Definition Ankyloglossia is the medical term for tongue tie — a condition that can be as mild as slightly limiting a tongue’s range of motion to causing speech and swallowing pathologies, underdevelopment of the mouth, and potentially sleep…
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Bite splint improves Tennis Performance
It is always a compliment when a patient volunteers to write a testimonial, and here we have just received on about how her bite splint improves her tennis performance. We are so proud of your success, and thoroughly impressed that you would use this experience to write about in your college essay! In the patients’…
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ALF treats Collapsed Nasal Valve
ALF treats collapsed nasal valve – but what’s a collapsed nasal valve? NASAL VALVE INSUFFICIENCY The collapse of the internal nasal valves during inhalation reduces air flow through the nose, and increases the amount of pressure needed by the chest to overcome that limited inspiration. Nasal valve insufficiency looks like this: Many ENTs will…
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Dental ALF reduces Obstructive Sleep Apnea
A dental ALF reduces obstructive sleep apnea! WHAT? HOW? OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA Obstructive sleep apnea is a dangerous condition that occurs during sleep, wherein a person’s breathing decreases to the point of preventing air flow to the lungs. There are varying degrees of obstructive sleep apnea, and varying causes. One such cause is a restriction…
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Using a splint as a Tongue Retraining Program
Using a splint as a tongue retraining program can be a challenge. Bite splints are indicated for a number of reasons, and one such is a R TMCC pattern with a loss of cervical lordosis. Guiding the patient to have smooth easy protrusive movement over a mandibular splint can create a healthy cervical lordotic curve,…
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PRI Interview of Dr Caughey Featured
PRI (Postural Restoration Institute) featured Dr Caughey’s interview on its website! As a PRI enthusiast, I was overwhelmed with pride to be invited to be invited to speak at the 2017 Annual Interdisclipinary Symposium https://www.posturalrestoration.com/programs-courses/annual-symposium/interdisciplinary-integration – but Wow! What an honor to be recently interviewed by PRI, much less to have the interview featured on their…
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Splint design on Neck outcomes: Dr Caughey speaks at the GDA Annual Meeting
As a 17 year long member of the Georgia Dental Association, Dr Caughey attended at the GDA Annual Meeting in an enjoyable way; sharing community and learning with local colleagues. This year Dr. Caughey was invited to speak to the audience on the relationship of bite splint designs and their effect on the cervical spine (neck)…
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Splint for Scissors Bite
Making a splint for a patient with a scissors bite follows the same principles as in most other cases. A scissors bite is also called a buccal cross bite, wherein the maxillary molar is more than halfway across the mandibular molar; the lingual (tongue-side) cusp of the upper molar is touching the buccal (cheek-side) surface…
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PT to Dentist Referral
First and foremost, many patients demonstrating symptoms of R TMCC patterning will NOT need dental intervention! But it is helpful to know how to recognize those who will. We hope this stepwise chart will aid in decision making. STEP 1: LOCATION OF SYMPTOMS FROM HISTORY Headache – almost always! Neck pain – possibly. Depends on…
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Splint for Gag Reflex
The idea of wearing a lower bite splint is a challenge for patients with a significant gag reflex, particularly if their gag reflex is stimulated by anything touching the side of the tongue. The Gag Reflex (or pharyngeal reflex) is a hypersensitivity to anything touching the muscles involved with swallowing – the soft palate, the…
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PRI Lecture: Splints effect on Necks
It was a complete honor to be asked to lecture about the effect of a splint on a neck at the 2017 PRI annual symposium. While I have been practicing and teaching splint therapy at the Pankey Institute for 10+ years, the exact effect that these dental bite splints has on the neck is not commonly…
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PRI speaking engagement!
I’ve been busily pouring through the available scientific literature in preparation for this Annual Symposium in April 2017. What amazes me is the vast nature of the literature – scientists spending their lives investigating a subject from so many different angles. As a community, we are getting closer all the time to understanding what keeps…
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PRI explained in 6 mins
Many patients who find their way to our practice will ultimately be recommended to have postural therapy in conjunction with traditional TMJ therapy. This video was created by Voices of America and gives a great overview of what Postural Restoration Institute concepts are all about!
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