Meet Dr. Tony Eldridge

Dr Eldridge began restricting his practice to Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMJD) 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 most importantly, from experience of being a patient himself. He now restricts his practice to the treatment and management of Orofacial Pain, TMJ Disorders, Headaches, and Sleep Disorders so that other people do not suffer needlessly.

Synopsis of symptom onset for Dr. Eldridge:

1992

First ever migraine occurred.
Regular morning headaches commenced.

1995

Recurring nightmare commenced where teeth were falling out or shattering due to being clenched together so tightly.
Occasionally would wake up in the middle of the night with teeth clamped firmly together and unable to open mouth for several seconds.
Waking with neck pain commenced.
Began receiving treatment from a physiotherapist, GP, and chiropractor for headaches and neck pain.

1997

Ongoing regular migraines, episodic morning headaches, and neck pain.
Right-sided pain and clicking commenced in the right jaw joint.
Lower back pain commenced.
Insomnia commenced.

1998

Told by a “TMJ Dentist” that teeth clenching and jaw pain is ‘self limiting’ and would ‘go away’.
GP, Physiotherapist, Chiropractor, and Acupuncturist treatment continued for headaches, neck pain, and lower back pain.
Sense of balance when walking began to deteriorate.
Ear pain and tinnitus (ringing) began.

2000

Right jaw began to lock closed in the morning.
Tinnitus became severe and a feeling of a blocked right ear commenced.

2002

Began study on Orthodontics and TMJ Disorders. Self-treatment with various types of mouth splints for TMJ pain commenced. 12 different types and designs tried. Only 1 design reasonably successful.
Headaches reduced but neck pain and lower back pain continued.

2004

Invited to visit and study in the rooms of TMJ Specialist Dr. Steven Olmos, San Diego, USA.
Treatment of right TMJ commenced immediately with a daytime jaw repositioning appliance, and a night-time clenching appliance.
Commenced intensive rehabilitation of neck, shoulders, posture, feet, and balance using chiropractic, physiotherapy, podiatry, and orthodontic regimes.

2005

All symptoms of headaches, TMJ pain, and lower back pain resolved after 13 months of treatment.

Growing up in a family heavily involved in the building industry, Dr Eldridge commenced his working career as an apprentice electrician. Unusual events in his early 20’s saw Dr Eldridge employed for several years in the South Australian Ambulance Service as an ambulance officer. It was this exposure to the field of Emergency and Paramedical studies that led to further education at university. Dr Eldridge returned to working as an electrician in order to fund 6 years of undergraduate studies. In 2000 he graduated from Adelaide University and entered practice as a General Dentist in the Army before relocating to Scottsdale, Tasmania in 2002.

With a passion for remote and rural oral health and indigenous health, Dr. Eldridge has worked in a range of conditions and continents, including Northern India, Tibet, and Africa. Many outback trips to places such as the Aboriginal Communities of Arnhem Land, Yuendumu, Willowra, Nyirripi in the Northern Territory, and many communities and cattle stations of South Australia, New South Wales, and QLD has provided Dr Eldridge experience in dental problems in a range of environments. Although the past two years of running two practices and continued specialist studies has reduced the amount of volunteer and outback trips that he can take, Dr Eldridge continues to hold strong interests and concerns for the oral health of indigenous Australians, third world, and underprivileged persons.

Dr Eldridge lives in Hobart with his partner Wanita whom together share passions for the great Tasmanian lifestyle, outdoors, and natural environment.

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