At our dental clinic, we strive to provide evidence-based and compassionate care for orofacial pain, temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and snoring/obstructive sleep apnea. We believe that a board-certified, residency-trained specialist that treats exclusively orofacial pain and TMD is the best option for patients dealing with pain. In our practice, you will receive a multidisciplinary approach to pain that will be tailored to your needs and lifestyle.

If you have a TMJ disorder, you may experience pain and discomfort when opening your mouth, chewing or upon awakening. Other TMD symptoms may include: Clicking or popping noises Earaches Pain in the temple area, Muscle spasms around the head and neck, Limited jaw opening, Jaw locking/catching, Headaches, Difficulty chewing, speaking, or yawning, Pain in the neck, back, or head Changes in bite, Dental pain of unknown origin.

WHAT CAUSES TMJ DISORDERS?

According to the Academy of Orofacial Pain, the causes of TMJD are unclear. Research has shown that multiple factors contribute to the development of TMD, and not only one.

Possible contributing factors to TMD include: Jaw injury, including whiplash or getting hit in the jaw Over-stretching from: wide opening during eating, long dental procedures, or insertion of a breathing tube, Teeth clenching and grinding, Abnormal habits such as nail biting, gum chewing, Arthritis, Infection, Auto-immune diseases, Hormones, Genetics, Psychological factors such as emotional stress, depression, or anxiety.

NERVE PAIN

Neuropathic pain is defined as pain arising as a direct consequence of a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system. Types of nerve pain Trigeminal neuralgia. Severe and excruciating electric shock-like pain in one of the distributions of the trigeminal nerve Triggered by touching the face or spontaneous pain, Burning Mouth Syndrome, Post-Traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathies, Other Neuralgias, Persistent Idiop.

Some headaches can be caused by a TMJ disorder and can be effectively treated by controlling the primary cause. At TMJ disorder Houston, Facial Pain and Sleep, we can help find out the source of your headaches. We also treat other types of headaches, including: Migraine, Tension-type headache, Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias.

WHAT IS OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder, with an estimated prevalence of 12% in the US population and affecting more than 100 million individuals worldwide. It is characterized by repetitive episodes of partial (hypopneas) or total (apneas) upper airway obstruction during sleep, that results in decreased oronasal airflow.

Symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea- Snoring, Choking/gasping for air while sleeping, Fatigue & daytime sleepiness, Insomnia, Poor sleep quality, Sleep fragmentation, Nocturia (nocturnal urination), Sleep bruxism, Neurocognitive deficits, Mood disorders, Morning headache.

OSA is a risk factor for: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD)

Hypertension, Cardiovascular disease (stroke, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias), Insulin resistance (diabetes), Epithelial dysfunction (ischemia), Increased risk of motor vehicle accidents

According to the AHI, OSA can be classified in: Mild (from 5 to 14 events/hour), Moderate (from 15 to 29 events/hour) ,Severe (30 or more events/hour)

In case of mild-moderate OSA or in those patients who snore, a custom oral appliance can be fabricated. Sleep physicians might indicate these appliances in patients with severe OSA or in those unable to tolerate CPAP. These specific types of appliances are called mandibular advancement devices (MADs), appliances that reposition the mandible forward during sleep.

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