Dr. Keith Hollinger enjoys helping patients with a wide variety of issues that drastically improve their lives. He has a strong passion for cultural and ecological awareness and preservation.
Major Crothers is a resident graduate of SOS and ACSC. He is a developmental engineer for the Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Kirtland AFB, NM.
Orofacial Pain & Sleep Medicine
Our doctors are trained to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions relating to the mouth and neck. This includes TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders) and associated headaches, atypical toothaches, nerve pain (cranial neuralgias and neuropathic pain), oromotor bruxism, burning mouth syndrome, chronic neck pain and headache disorders, and dental sleep appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea.
The UCLA Graduate Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine clinic is staffed with dentists specializing in various areas of dentistry, physical therapists and psychologists that routinely work together to assess and manage patients. This multi-disciplinary approach provides the best possible diagnosis and treatment of patients with complex orofacial pain disorders including TMD, neuropathic pain conditions and obstructive sleep apnea using oral devices.
Dr. Gabriel enjoys caring for her patients like they are family, treating them with compassion, honesty and skill. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family. She is an avid Liverpool fan and enjoys tennis, running and outdoor activities.
TMJ Therapy
The small hinge that connects your lower jaw to your skull can develop problems due to arthritis, faulty dental work or poor posture. These problems can cause pain in the jaw, neck and shoulders and headaches. Symptoms may include clicking or popping when opening and closing your mouth, chewing is difficult, or the jaw seems to lock in place.
Physical therapy aims to decrease jaw and muscle tightness, decrease inflammation that can occur with TMJ and restore normal movement of the joint. Therapists obtain patients’ medical history, palpate the jaw and the muscles around it to examine how the joint moves, test their posture and perform a range of motion in the jaw.
Some noninvasive treatments such as massage, heat and stretching can help reduce jaw tightness, improve mouth opening and relieve TMJ symptoms. Occasionally, an x-ray or MRI is needed to see if the TMJ has arthritic changes or a misaligned articular disc. A minimally invasive procedure called arthroscopy can be performed to remove scar tissue and reposition the joint’s disc.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is the specialty of dentistry concerned with the diagnosis, prevention, interception and correction of tooth and jaw irregularities, commonly known as malocclusion. Besides correcting existing conditions, orthodontics also affects and guides facial growth to prevent future problems.
Crooked teeth can make chewing difficult and increase the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems. Orthodontics can correct these issues and help patients maintain healthy teeth for life.
Treatment options for malocclusion include traditional metal braces, clear braces (Invisalign), removable appliances such as retainers and aligners, and expanders to widen the upper arch. These appliances use pressure to guide the teeth into their proper positions.
Dr. Hollinger lives in Connecticut with his wife Laura and their 5 children. When he’s not saving people from snoring and sleep apnea, you can find him playing guitar or doing crossword puzzles. He has a passion for helping people improve their quality of life. He has been practicing dentistry for over 25 years.
General Dentistry
Oral health plays a vital role in the overall health of your body. Dental problems such as tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious medical issues, so regular visits to a general dentist are critical.
As a primary care provider, a general dentist is trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent a wide range of dental problems for patients of all ages. A general dentist can help you understand your risks for oral health issues and offer guidance on preventing them through good oral hygiene practices and routine dental visits.
This department also supports the development of critical thinking skills of predoctoral students through small group case discussions and interdisciplinary seminars. In addition, this department helps students to become proficient in all modalities of general dentistry as they work within a multidisciplinary team under the direction of their group practice director. This includes assisting with patient management and providing advice on third-party payer coding.