BDS, Grad.Dip.Clin.Dent, MSc Med (Pain Management), General Dentist
Dr Tony Eldridge is a male General Dentist.
Dr Eldridge began restricting his practice to Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJD) a decade ago now in an effort to treat himself and ease his own symptoms after suffering pain for many years from severe tooth clenching, headaches, neck pain, and a jaw joint that popped and clicked. His entire practice, patient information forms, web site, and empathy for his patients is based entirely on best evidence-based medicine and dentistry, and most importantly from the experience of being a patient himself.
Dr Tony EldridgeDr Eldridge has successfully treated thousands of people locally and interstate with some having even travelled from overseas countries. He regularly contributes articles of interest to various magazines, both online and offline media outlets, professional development courses, and non-government organisations and committees to help promote and educate the public and broad range of health professionals alike on the diagnosis, treatment, and effects of orofacial pain, TMJ disorders, and snoring / sleep apnoea in adults and children.
His referral-based practice has grown over the years to include basic and complex oral surgical procedures such as extractions, wisdom teeth removal, implants and bone grafting, tongue tie (frenectomy) removals in children, and Oral Medicine. More recently, Dr Eldridge saw that there was a large need for a select group of the community to be provided with an option to be able to access high quality affordable dental treatment outside of a hospital setting. Today, the Hobart Orofacial Pain and Special Needs Clinic is the only dental practice of its type in Tasmania for the treatment and management of Orofacial Pain, TMJ Disorders, Headaches, Oral Surgery, Sleep Disorders, and those people with intellectual and physical disabilities, and dental fears and phobias.
These facets of the practice are all extremely important in the differential diagnosis of Orofacial Pain but also allow a very comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan to be tailored to each individual patient, including children who are an often overlooked section of the population. This is particularly relevant when patients arrive in the practice for one pain complaint, but typically will have multiple contributing factors that may be physical, psychological, and often both. Hence, success of treatment relies on a properly evaluated and instigated ‘management plan’ rather than typical ‘tooth orientated’ dental approaches to pain.
