Specialty Services

TMJ/TMD/Migraine headache treatment

We realize that many of our patients have exhausted their efforts in trying to find a cure for their head pain and migraine problems. We don't want to be "another doctor" or "another office" that you go to. We want to be the practice that treats your pain with a high degree of success.

Known for exceptional customer service that treats TMJ pain, TMD, Headaches, Migraines, Neck Pain, ear pain and Jaw pain. Our practice is devoted to helping chronic pain patients live pain free lives.
TMJ, TMD and generalized Neuromuscular Dentistry complications can affect children as well as adults.

Many adults discover in later years when symptoms that were, at one time. manageable with common over the counter medications can become very unruly in later years. The antecedents or elements of change that affect jaw positioning, occlusal physics and overall jaw alignment can get started very early.

Night Guard Therapy

Bruxism is the medical term used to describe clenching or grinding teeth. Most often this gnashing, clenching and grinding happens while a patient is sleeping and unaware. The results of teeth grinding  can be damage to teeth, frequent headaches, TMJ, and other jaw or dental problems. At the very least, clenching teeth on a regular nightly basis wears down the thin layer of enamel on teeth and can lead to chips, cracks, and fractures. Some patients do not even realize they have bruxism until the chronic daily headache due to grinding brings them into a doctor or dentist’s office to be evaluated for a night guard.

Generally, a custom fitted plastic insert covers some or all of the teeth. It provides a barrier so when patients begin grinding or clenching- upper and lower teeth do not touch. Instead, the teeth bite down into the night guard, a much softer and less damaging surface than tooth enamel. The result is less wear on teeth, less risk of dental damage, and an end to headaches due to grinding.
There are over the counter night guard kits and self-molding night guards that claim to end everything from headache due to grinding to weight gain. However, the best option is to have a guard properly fitted by a dentist. Each patient’s mouth is different and thus a good fit helps keep the guard in place, even in the midst of the worst bouts of grinding teeth. The guard works by forcing both upper and lower jaws to come to rest in the best possible position, given the patient’s particular bite. Clenching teeth is much harder with a guard in place, but less likely to occur if the jaws are resting in the proper, most comfortable position.

If you have chronic, daily headache due to grinding or wake up with jaw pain, call us about a custom fit night guard. It can help you stop grinding and clenching teeth before permanent damage occurs. While your bruxism may be the result of temporary stress, depending on the severity you could potentially do serious damage in a short period. A properly fitted, well-constructed night guard can put an end to your discomfort and prevent a ton of dental problems in the future.

Sleep Apnea Appliances / Snore Appliances

Variety of sleep apnea oral appliances that are custom-fitted to help the patient sleep soundly and minimize the effects of sleep apnea
These FDA-approved devices essentially treat Obstructive Sleep Apnea by preventing airway obstruction and allowing the patient to breathe easily and continuously. Worn in the mouth like an orthodontic appliance during sleep, oral appliances keep the soft tissue from collapsing and interrupting normal breathing patterns. The purpose of the oral appliance may be to reposition the lower jaw, tongue, soft palate, and hyoid bone into a certain position, to keep the airway open with stabilization of the tongue and jaw, or to provide artificial muscle tone to prevent collapse and resulting airway blockage. The doctors will fit your oral appliance for comfort by using a mold of your mouth to design your unique fit.

After a complete diagnosis, they will recommend an oral appliance if needed, and let you know which brand will work best for you. Oral appliances may be used in conjunction with other apnea treatments.

Bite analysis/equilibration

For some patients, not everything with respect to their ‘bite’ lines up exactly like it should. This can result in headaches, pain and significant discomfort.

Bite analysis is the considered evaluation of the jaws, muscles and teeth and how they work together. Thorough the use of diagnostic casts taken of a patient’s mouth, a better understanding of the bite dynamic can be gained.

Tobacco Cessation

The National Tobacco Cessation Collaborative (NTCC) was formed in 2005 to improve the public's health by increasing successful cessation among tobacco users in the U.S. and Canada through collaborative efforts of committed organizations.
Set up a free consultation with Dr. Maxwell treating Tobacco Use and Dependence.