Headache is a common symptom experienced by those who grind their teeth at night while sleeping (Bruxism). Other symptoms may include muscle aches, neck and shoulder stiffness, TMJ-related pain, tinnitus, and sleep issues. Bruxism can also have some long-term oral health issues. The most notable ones can be jaw damage and chipped or cracked teeth.

People are usually not aware that they are suffering from Bruxism. Often a friend or a family member makes them aware after observing or hearing teeth grinding during sleep. Dentists find out about Bruxism by looking at the signs of grinding like tooth wear and receding gum lines. A physician can also diagnose Bruxism as a cause of headache.

The cause of Bruxism varies from patient to patient and may include:

• Misaligned teeth
• Stress or anxiety
• Missing or crooked teeth
• Sleep Apnea

Yes! There are several ways to prevent teeth grinding. If grinding occurs during sleep, your dentist might recommend you a mouth guard that correctly aligns your teeth, allowing your teeth to rest during sleep. It is also advisable to avoid foods and drinks that are high in sugar or caffeine as it can cause a potential increase in grinding.
Sleep-Related Bruxism that is caused due to sleep breathing disorders such as Sleep Apnea can be treated by a dentist who has expertise in treating this life-threatening breathing disorder. TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Montana provides Dental Sleep Medicine. It is the management of medically diagnosed sleep-related breathing disorders, such as Sleep Apnea, using oral appliance therapy for adults and orthopedic orthodontics for airway development or correction for children.

In most cases, Bruxism is not a serious condition. But severe Bruxism can cause:

• Damage to your teeth, crowns and jaw
• Severe facial or jaw pain
• Tension-type headaches

Bruxism can, however, be potentially dangerous if it’s a symptom of a sleeping disorder called obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Studies have proved that OSA and Bruxism are connected and that a person grinding teeth is actually struggling to maintain the airway at night while sleeping.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea can increase the probability of stroke, recurrent heart attack, and irregular heartbeats. If you have heart disease, several episodes of hypoxia or hypoxemia (low blood oxygen level) can cause sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.

Untreated Sleep Apnea can cause:

• Heart problems
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Liver problems
• Memory issues
• Weight gain
• Fatigue
• Depression and
• Headache

Loud snoring can indicate a potential sleeping disorder, but not everyone who has Sleep Apnea snores. Do consult your doctor if you are experiencing signs or symptoms of Sleep Apnea. Talk to your doctor about any sleep problem that makes you sleepy, fatigued or irritable.

TMJ means temporomandibular joint or the joint between your lower jaw and the skull. TMD stands for temporomandibular joint disorder/ dysfunction. The difference between the two is that TMJ refers to the joint itself, while TMD refers to issues characterized by inflammation or misalignment of the joint.

Chronic headaches are often a symptom of undiagnosed conditions of sleep-related breathing disorders or an injury to the temporomandibular joint and surrounding structures. Dr. VanDyke of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Montana are able to find the primary cause and provide effective treatment for thousands of headache patients.

First, TMJ is the term patients are most familiar with, and it is the most common component of Craniofacial Pain. Second, both TMJ and Sleep Apnea can be successfully treated non-surgically with oral appliance therapy, and these two conditions are often comorbid (interrelated). Our doctor is skilled in identifying and addressing the primary problem for the best treatment direction and successful long term results.

While the symptoms will vary from person to person, some of the most common symptoms include:

Headaches – recurring or chronic
Earache or ear symptoms of stuffiness or ringing
Facial Pain or Jaw Pain
Neck pain or stiffness
Jaw joint sounds – clicking, popping or grating noises
Limited ability to open or close mouth
Jaw locking (open or closed)
Sensitive, loose or worn down teeth
Difficulty swallowing
Difficulty sleeping
If any of these symptoms affect your daily life or you are regularly taking pain or sleep medications, you should be evaluated by a trained professional.

Unlike splints, the orthotics (orthopedic appliances) we use are individually designed and fabricated using the only peer reviewed bite technique to provide the best position and fit for healing. They are used short term (approximately 12 weeks) to provide decompression to the joint during the rehabilitation process.

To treat and successfully heal the TM joints, it is necessary to provide stability, support and protection both day and night. Our body functions differently during the day when we are upright and conscious than it does during the night when we are lying down and not conscious. Daytime appliances are designed for treatment during the waking hours and normal activities like speaking, chewing, swallowing. Nighttime appliances are used to protect and support the joint during sleep when patients are not conscious and cannot control any activities (oral motor movement) that can potentially harm the joint, slow the healing process and prevent successful results.

Although eating is a normal function, when there is a TM joint disorder, chewing and swallowing without support and protection aggravates the condition preventing and prolonging the healing process. The daytime appliance supports and protects the joint. The TMJ joints are not unlike any other joint in the body; when rehabilitating the knee or ankle, would you expect to remove the brace each time you walk?

If it is truly ‘just snoring’, you can! But neither you nor the doctor can be certain the snoring is not a symptom of sleep apnea without proper diagnosis. Treating a patient for snoring when it is really sleep apnea can have life threatening results.

A night guard is typically made to protect teeth that are being worn down due to unconscious behavior during sleep. Often that behavior is due to a breathing problem the patient is not aware of – it makes them unconsciously move the jaw around all night to get a better airway. A sleep appliance is specifically designed to maintain an open airway helping you get a better night sleep and feel more rested in the morning.

Yes, oral appliance therapy is one of the recommended treatment options for patients with a diagnosis of mild to moderate sleep apnea. The oral appliance is worn in the mouth to keep the airway / throat open during sleep by controlling the position of the tongue and lower jaw. For severe cases, oral appliances can also be used with CPAP to make it more tolerable to wear.

Snoring is an indicator of a possible sleep apnea condition. Sleep apnea has no boundaries for age or size. In fact, there is a 70% overlap between snoring and apnea in children. These are staggering numbers and the reason the American Association of Pediatrics ‘Practice Parameter’ states that all children should be screened for snoring. An affirmative response for snoring should be followed by a more detailed evaluation.

The standard of care is always to attempt non-surgical rehabilitation before invasive surgical procedures. The percentage of patients who need surgery is extremely low.

Night terrors and mood swings in children can indicate a sleep-related breathing disorder due to improper or insufficient skeletal development resulting in insufficient airway. This can create a form of suffocation causing night terrors and moodiness. Insufficient airway and lack of oxygen has also been associated with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Children with OSA are frequently misdiagnosed as having an ADHD and placed on unnecessary medication.

It is a dental physician (DDS or DMD) who evaluates and treats these conditions. Dr. VanDyke is a Diplomate in CranioFacial Pain by the American Board of CranioFacial Pain and is also a Diplomate in Dental Sleep Medicine by the American Board of CranioFacial Sleep Medicine. It is important that the dentist selected has completed specific education and training for these complex conditions.

No, we are insurance free. However, we will do all we can to assist you in getting reimbursement from your health insurance carrier.

If your dental plan has benefits for evaluating or treating TMJ conditions, we will bill for your reimbursement. However most dental plans only cover dental treatments and TMJ and Sleep conditions are medical in nature.