Dr. Merchant and team does medical screening to determine the correlation between Temporomandibular joint(TMJ) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) to help determine the right course of treatment to manage this medical condition with a dental solution.
Studies show that about 75% of TMJ pain patients are diagnosed with sleep apnea, and 52% of OSA patients experience persistent TMJ pain. Health risks for undiagnosed OSA includes:
Signs & Symptoms of TMJ And Neuromuscular Dysfunction:
- Frequent Headaches / Migraine Headaches
- Clenching or Grinding of the Teeth (Bruxism)
- "Popping" or "Clicking" of the jaw
- Cracking, chipping or breaking of dental restorations
- Forward Head Posture
- Deviation of the Jaw
- Ringing or congestion in the ears
- Neck, Shoulders and Back Pain
- Numbness or tingling in the arms & fingers
- Worn or Cracked Teeth
- Abnormal Wear of the Teeth
- Unexplained Loose Teeth
- Tender, Sensitive Teeth
- Jaw and Jaw Joint Pain
- Chewing Difficulties
If you have concerns about snoring and sleep apnea, it may be time to make an appointment! Medical Screening appointment is the first step to address chief complaint of each patient regarding Airway, Breathing, Sleep and/or TMJ dysfunction. We offer medical billing service to help you understand your coverage towards managing these conditions in a dental office. Thorough examination includes:
- Sleep/TMJ Questionnaires
- Palpation of Head & Neck muscles
- CBCT (with radiologist interpretation)
- HST (with Sleep Physician interpretation)