I think the basic purpose of life is to help others and make a difference. My profession is the most direct and personal way I can help those around me. My work fulfills one of my most basic purposes in life;it is that fundamental.
Working with so many different people gives me a deeper appreciation for the diverse abilities those people haveandhas helped me appreciate the basic human characteristics common to us all. I see the difficulties each person faces, especially as theyrelateto their pain.That gives me a constantly renewed energy and purpose to help others reclaim as much of their life as wecan.
I love getting to know my patients as people, and learning about their day-to-day lives. In gathering their initial health history, I learn a great deal about them:far beyond just how their body feels. With craniofacial pain patients, their past physical and emotional events, and how they live their life now, areessential to understanding their current condition and how to move beyond it.
I am most excited about relieving peoples head and jaw painpain which they may have experienced for five, ten, twenty, or more years! It is satisfying and thrilling to watch a persons life change. I never grow tired of starting with someone who feels their health history will determine their future, and helping them improve their life. As we move through care, people regain more control of their health, and by the time were finished, theyre in charge of their body. When aperson discoversthat their past doesnt have to determine their future health, thats an exciting moment!
I love my life and I love my work. The most amazing times are when a patient is no longer in pain and they begin to smile, become animated, and I can see the life that was always inside them reemerge and shine through. They go out into the world and have better relationships,are more effective in their jobs, and are simply happier people.
Research in the fields of craniofacial pain and sleep has rapidly increased over the last 20 years. Each year I complete more than 100 hours of continuing education, through lectures, in hands-on and laboratory formats, and by completing residency and mini-residency programs. This ensures I am always providing my patients with state-of-the-art care thats grounded in a deep background of experience.
My continuing education courses are always with the premier clinicians and researchers on the planet. I strive to bring the latest knowledge and techniques back to my patients and apply them in ways thatimprove theirhealth, longevity, and enjoyment oflife. Over the years I have developed a broad and refined understanding of what does and what does not work and I constantly ensure that we use the most beneficial knowledge, technology, and techniques as they apply to each individual.
I grew up in Wichita, along the west banks of the Arkansas River. At the time it was far west Wichita! I currently live in Wichita and have been there since my wife and I returned following dental schoolin 1982.
My wife Jae and I were teenage sweethearts and, after an eight-year courtship, were married in 1980. We have a daughter, Logan, and a son, Collin. Even though they live in Kansas City and Chicago, we make time to get together as often as we can.
We always have animals at home, but our Labmix, Leo, is my all-time favorite. We used to run or walk for hours. Even though he has gotten older and his legs weaker, he is just as loyal and always at my side as we spend time in our yard.
I can truly say that helping people become free of craniofacial pain, and helping childrens faces and jaws grow optimally, is a passion. I spend a great deal of my personal time communicating with other doctorsaround the world, and studying the latest research.
I begin every day with at least these two goals: make a positive difference in someones life and learn something new. Thanks to our patients and the wonderful people I work with, those goals are met every single day. Due to the nature of chronic pain and disturbed sleep, often times the positive difference reaches the magnitude of life-changing. Having the opportunity to make such a large impact for people truly makes me a lucky man.
Pain, especially chronic pain, can change people. Human beings have a tremendous ability to adapt, but often times those adaptations have negative consequences that can be physical, emotional, or psychological. Taking the time to listen to patients allows me to get a sense for how their life may have been affected by their conditions. It is both amazing and extremely rewarding to see the positive changes occur as symptoms start to fade away.
It has been said that when a person finds their true calling, it no longer feels like work. For much of my life, I scoffed at that idea as I felt it was idealistic and unattainable. No longer do I feel that way. I have found a place within my profession that perfectly aligns my passions, experiences, talents, and empathetic nature. I cannot imagine a better fit!
Our office is uniquely patient-centered and strives to provide people with hope, education, and a path toward health. Diagnosis and treatment are very important pieces of the puzzle, but far from the only ones. We do our very best to help patients sort through all factors that impact their craniofacial pain, often to the benefit of their overall health.
By the end of 2019, I will have accumulated over 350 hours of continuing education over a two-year span, including both lecture and hands-on learning. Additionally, I have the mentorship of Dr. Baba on a daily basis. Education is vital to remaining at the forefront of our field and fits perfectly with my love of learning. As long as I do this, I will remain dedicated to knowing and using the best techniques and technologies to benefit our patients.
I grew up in Cassoday, KS, with the Flint Hills practically in my backyard. Much of my childhood was spent in Wichita: attending Wichita State sporting events, playing baseball at Westurban, and visiting family and friends. Our family moved to El Dorado during my junior year of high school and I graduated from EHS in 1993. After high school, I spent most of a decade working as a technician for SBC Corp (now AT&T) in Emporia before eventually returning to school to chase my dream of becoming a dentist.
After graduating from dental school, I owned a small general dentistry practice in Midwest City before returning to Kansas to join Dr. Baba. I couldnt be happier to be back in my home state, helping improve my patients quality of life. I have two teenage sons that help keep me busy and I enjoy being able to spend more time with my parents and extended family.
We recognize that all our patients are unique and deserve to receive craniofacial care that reflects their individual needs. Our experienced and talented team is committed to working with you and your family to create a comfortable, productive, and rewardingexperience every time you visit our practice.
I find it rewarding to help patients understand how our Doctor's treatment approach is different from other doctors and what he and our team offer to help them feel their best. I schedule new patients and discuss financial arrangements and insurance with them. I also oversee the daily activities at our practice and handle marketing for growth and development. Watching patients get their lives back, and seeing them function pain-free, confirms for me that Im lucky to be part of this amazing team!
My husband Randy and I have lived in Augusta for over 30 years. We have two grown children and are expecting our first grandbaby in March 2017! In my spare time, I enjoy relaxing with family and friends, being outdoors, hiking, and going to the beach.
My favorite thing about being a part of the TMJ & Sleep Therapy team is knowing that we have the ability to change someones life. In the time Ive been with the Centre, Ive met numerous patients that have come to us seeking answers and hopefully healing when other Doctors have told them they are out of options. I know when I schedule a new patient that not only will our doctors take the time to fully evaluate them, but will also go above and beyond to help treat them as well.
I am glad to help my patients understand their dysfunction and get them out of pain so they can return to a happier and healthier life. Seeing a person transform from always being in pain to living pain-free is so rewarding ...for the patient and for our team! I educate and care for patients that have craniofacial pain and sleep breathing disorders. My goal is to improve each persons quality of life and see them smiling.
My husband Rick and I have three grown children and eight wonderful grandchildren. I love spending time with my family.Rick and I do our best to attend as many of the grandchildrens sporting and school events as we can.
I love watching our clients change as they begin to take charge of their health. Its rewarding to get to know clients so well that they become part of our office family, and help them move out of pain. My job involves helping clients achieve the highest level of health. It might be educating them or helping them find the right exercises or nutritional supplement. I alsoconnect patients to other professionals who can help them feel better.
Im the mother of three amazing kids, one daughter-in-law, and four grandkids, though Im hoping for more! We have lived in rural Rose Hill for almost 20 years. I love to be outdoors, bike ridding or out on our gun range. I have a passion for animals. I currently have three rescue dogs, MoJo, Bear, and Jay and if I ever have the opportunity, I will startan animal rescue.
I love meeting and building relationships while helping others. I educate patients about their health and encourage them to make positive changes in their lifestyles. Each day I look forward to meeting new patients and getting them feeling better. No two patients are the same so I am constantly learning new things.
I was born and raised in Wichita. In my spare time I enjoy reading, cooking, traveling and hanging out with my family. My husband and I have 2 sons who are Theodore and Jackson. We also have adaughter named Maddie who are the light of our lives.
As one of our clinical assistants, I educate patients and review their craniofacial and sleep disorder symptoms, make adjustments to their orthotics, take digital impressions to send off to the lab so they can make the patients appliances, and assist in orthodontic procedures. I am the OSHA coordinator for the office, ensuring that our patient safety protocols are up to code. Working in this office allows me to witness our patients progress in achieving overall health. It is an environment that balances care and compassion with education and clinical excellence.
As a clinical assistant at the TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre, I pride myself in the fact that I can play a part in improving ones quality of life and overall health. I love that I can use my experience and skills to help others. I have been working in the dental field since age 18. I am passionate about the art of dentistry, I believe it takes a delicate hand and I truly admire that. I work with the majority of our orthodontic patients and I am committed to perfecting the details of each and every case. I relate to each patient in a different way and I will cheer them on with each step of their treatment!
I was born and raised in a small town in Oklahoma. I married my husband, Brett in June of 2017 and we moved to Wichita in August of 2018. We have one fur child named Shane. Brett and I love to be outdoors, camping, riding our Polaris RZR (especially in Colorado), traveling to different places, playing with Shane, going to our neighborhood lake. We have a lot of fun together!
When youre experiencing chronic headaches or craniofacial pain, your quality of life suffers. Its difficult to enjoy your time with loved ones, focus at work, and feel engaged with the world when youre always hurting.
At The TMJ and Sleep Therapy Centre of Kansas, Dr. Joseph Baba, Dr. Mark McLaren and our team understand how diminished life can be when youre in pain. Our office provides advanced care and lasting solutions forcraniofacial pain and sleep issues that result from dental concerns. Our Doctors areknown for their treatment of TMJ-TMD dysfunctions, often succeeding when noone else can.
It all starts with your first visit. Dr. Baba or Dr. McLaren will perform a thorough, comprehensive exam and take a detailed health history. They will talkwith you about your symptoms, ask a lot of questions about the pain and your life, and seek to understand your concerns. Then theywill work with you to develop a methodical treatment approach.
We believe its essential that you understand whats happening in your mouth and how treatment will progress, so well walk you through each step. Healing takes time and work: you need to be a full partner in the process!
At every visit well update you on your progress, thoroughly answer your questions, and make sure youre happy with treatment. Were committed to working with you so you can reclaim your life and enjoy smilingfree of pain.
Our team members are people-oriented: each will go above and beyondto ensure your visits are positive experiences. We are friendly and engaging, and wantto know about your life and who you are. We promise youll never be thought ofas an anonymous number on a patient chart or a complicated case to be treated. Here, youll always be seen as a whole person whodeservesrespect and compassion.