How TMJ and Sleep Disorders of Michigan Is Using Advanced Technology to Help Patients Reclaim Their Health
Jaw pain, headaches and poor sleep are easy to dismiss until they begin controlling your life.
For someone suffering from a TMJ (temporomandibular disorder), simply eating a sandwich may become very painful. With TMJ, the jaw may click, lock or refuse to open normally, and headaches, facial soreness, ear pain, and neck tension can make it difficult to work, exercise, or enjoy time with family.
Sleep apnea can be even more deceptive and difficult to detect. A person may spend eight hours in bed, yet wake up exhausted because repeated airway blockages prevented restorative sleep and rest. Loud snoring, morning headaches, poor concentration, irritability, and daytime fatigue are not simply inconveniences. They may be signs of a serious sleep-related breathing disorder that can impact overall health.
Expertise Built Across Four Generations
At TMJ and Sleep Disorders of Michigan in Grand Rapids, Dr. Jerry Mulder and Dr. Allyson Mulder have devoted their specialty practice to helping patients understand and address these often-overlooked conditions.
Dr. Jerry Mulder and his daughter, Dr. Allyson Mulder, bring more than 20 years of combined experience treating temporomandibular disorders, craniofacial pain and sleep-related breathing problems.
Dr. Jerry earned his undergraduate and dental degrees from the University of Michigan. During more than 25 years of continuing education, he completed fellowship programs in temporomandibular joint disorders and dental sleep disorders through the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. His training also includes a TMD residency at the University of Tennessee and a neuromuscular orthodontic residency.
Dr. Allyson graduated from the University of Michigan in 2007 and earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 2012. She represents the fourth generation of Mulder dentists to serve the Grand Rapids community.
Her postgraduate education has focused heavily on TMJ disorders, craniofacial pain and sleep-related breathing disorders. She completed the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain’s Craniofacial Pain Residency and the University of Tennessee’s mini-residency in craniofacial pain and sleep-breathing disorders. She has also earned recognition as a Fellow of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.
Both doctors maintain affiliations with organizations including the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. To learn more about the doctors click here: Learn More.
When a Jaw Problem Becomes a Quality-of-Life Problem
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research defines temporomandibular disorders, or TMDs, as more than 30 conditions affecting the jaw joints and the muscles responsible for jaw movement.
Some minor symptoms improve with time and conservative self-care. However, persistent pain, limited movement, jaw locking, or painful clicking deserves professional evaluation, especially when it begins interfering with normal activities like chewing and sleeping.
Warning signs of TMJ can include:
- Jaw pain, stiffness or fatigue
- Pain while eating, chewing or speaking
- Limited movement or recurring jaw locking
- Painful clicking, popping or grinding
- Headaches or migraine-like symptoms
- Facial, ear or tooth pain without an obvious cause
- Ringing in the ears or dizziness
- Neck and shoulder tension
- Changes in how the upper and lower teeth fit together
- Clenching or grinding the teeth
These symptoms can gradually reshape a person’s daily routine. Patients may avoid certain foods, stop opening their mouths fully, depend on pain medication or live in constant fear that their jaw will lock.
Because jaw, facial and headache symptoms can have numerous causes, an accurate diagnosis matters. The National Institutes of Health recommends beginning with conservative care (non-surgical) and carefully weighing the risks before pursuing procedures that permanently alter the teeth, bite or jaw joints.
Sleep Apnea Is Much More Than Snoring
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs when the upper airway repeatedly narrows or closes during sleep. Breathing may slow or stop, causing the brain to briefly interrupt sleep so the body can begin breathing again.
Many people never remember waking. Instead, they experience the consequences the following day which are exhaustion, brain fog, irritability, poor memory, and difficulty concentrating.
Common warning signs of OSA include:
- Loud, frequent snoring
- Gasping, choking or pauses in breathing during sleep
- Waking with a dry mouth or headache
- Feeling tired after a full night in bed
- Daytime sleepiness
- Difficulty concentrating or remembering information
- Mood changes or irritability
- Teeth grinding or clenching at night
Untreated sleep apnea can affect far more than energy levels. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, untreated sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and stroke. It can also impair decision-making, memory and concentration.
Anyone who suspects sleep apnea should discuss the symptoms with a qualified healthcare provider. Diagnosis commonly involves a sleep study. Treatment depends on the type and severity of the condition and may include lifestyle changes, an oral appliance, or other medical interventions.
Using Technology to See What Symptoms Cannot Reveal
TMJ and Sleep Disorders of Michigan combines a detailed clinical evaluation with technology designed to measure jaw function, study oral structures and improve treatment planning.
The practice’s diagnostic and treatment technology includes:
- iTero digital scanning: Creates an accurate 3D model of the teeth and oral structures without traditional trays and impression material.
- i-CAT 3D cone-beam imaging: Produces three-dimensional images of the jaw, skull and airway structures.
- Joint Vibration Analysis: Records vibrations produced by the jaw joints during movement, helping the doctors assess joint function.
- K7 evaluation: Combines electromyography, joint-sound analysis and computerized jaw tracking to study muscle activity and jaw movement.
- Digital X-rays: Provide detailed diagnostic images that can be enlarged and reviewed with the patient.
- TENS therapy: Uses low-frequency electrical stimulation to help relax tense muscles in the jaw, head and neck.
- Cold-laser therapy: A noninvasive technology the practice uses to help address pain and inflammation.
- CEREC technology: Allows certain customized restorations to be digitally designed and produced chairside.
The iTero scanner can capture thousands of optical images in minutes and combine them into a detailed three-dimensional model. Patients can then see their teeth and jaw structures on a screen, making it easier for the doctors to explain their findings and proposed treatment. To read more about TMJ and Sleep Disorders of MI technology, be sure to check out -> Technology at TMJ and Sleep Disorders of Michigan.
Technology does not replace clinical judgment. Its value comes from giving the doctors more information with which to develop an individualized, conservative treatment plan.
Customized Treatment for TMJ Disorders and Sleep Apnea
Treatment is based on the patient’s diagnosis, symptoms and health history.
For TMJ patients, recommendations may include conservative therapies, muscle-relaxation techniques or customized oral appliances. The objective is to reduce stress on painful structures, improve function and help the patient return to normal activities.
For appropriately diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea patients, the practice offers custom oral-appliance therapy. These appliances are worn during sleep and support the lower jaw in a forward position to help maintain an open airway.
The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine recognizes oral appliances as an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Treatment should be coordinated with a medical provider, and patients require ongoing dental follow-up to ensure that the appliance remains comfortable and effective.
Patients Describe Getting Their Lives Back
The practice’s patient stories illustrate how deeply these conditions can affect everyday life. It’s not just hype. Both TMJ and Sleep Apnea both really try to derail people’s lives.
After receiving care, Caitlyn V. reported, “My TMJ has improved so much more than I ever thought possible!”
Jess H., who had experienced headaches, jaw locking and daily pain, said, “I didn’t know what life was like without headaches!”
Other patients describe being able to open their mouths more comfortably, eat foods they had avoided and reduce the persistent jaw, ear, head and neck pain that had followed them for years. To read more patient testimonials, visit patient testimonials.
For Dr. Jerry and Dr. Allyson Mulder, that is the larger purpose of treatment: helping patients move beyond managing symptoms and return to eating, sleeping, working and living life more comfortably and on their own terms.
Contact TMJ and Sleep Disorders of Michigan
Address: 1000 East Paris Avenue SE, Suite 215, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Phone: (616) 458-0631
Fax: (616) 458-4065
Email: info@tmjandsleepdisordersofmi.com
Website: TMJandSleepDisordersofMI.com
Facebook: TMJ and Sleep Disorders of Michigan
Google Business Profile: View the practice & Google reviews
Hours: By appointment only
Worth Noting:
The practice offers a complimentary 15-minute virtual consultation. New TMJ and sleep apnea patients begin with a virtual conversation before scheduling an in-office appointment in Grand Rapids.
