Sleep Appliance Causes Patient To Develop "TMJ". Is "TMJ" from Somnomed Sleep Appliance or is sleep apnea a symptom of a TMJ problem?

JEFF: I have an oral device (sonomed) for sleep apnea. It gave me TMJ. I haven't been able to tolerate cpap.


Dr Shapira: YOU STATE THAT YOU HAVE A SOMNOMED TO TREAT SLEEP APNEA BECAUSE YOU CANNOT TOLERATE CPAP.
It is excellent that you have chosen to treat the sleep apnea which can cause heart attacks, strokes, memory loss and excessive daytime sleepiness. Morning Headaches and headaches that wake patients from sleep are usually the result of sleep apnea or TMJ disorders ie "TMD"

YOU THEN STATE THAT YOU DEVELOPED TMJ BUT GAVE NO SPECIFICS AS TO SYMPTOMS. TMJ STANDS FOR TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT, NOT A DISEASE. It is important to understand the SPECIFIC problems so they can be addressed. Patients wearing oral appliances for sleep apnea may experience bite changes or tooth movement but damage should not occur to the joints. It is essential to work with a dentist who has training in treating sleep apnea and TMJ disorders.

I frequently see patients whose bite changes but the feel better. Many of the changes that occur when wearing a sleep appliance are actually due to the body healing. The same developmental problems cause both sleep apnea and TMJ disorders, migraines and chronic daily headaches.

Neuromuscular Dentistry is one of the best approaches to treating headaches and TMJ disorders.

ACCORDING TO THE NHLBI SLEEP APNEA IS A TMJ DISORDER. SEE http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/meetings/workshops/tmj_wksp.pdf You have actually developed a new symptom from the same disorder but because you didn't specify symptoms I can not specify what to do next.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that dentists treating sleep apnea with oral appliances should be well trained in treating TMJ disorders. I SUGGEST THAT THE BEST QUALIFIED DENTISTS FOR TREATING TMJ DISORDERS ARE NEUROMUSCULAR DENTISTS.

IF YOU CAN GIVE ME SPECIFIC INFORMATION I MAY BE OF MORE HELP. Please review www.ihateheadaches.org to learn about Neuromuscular Treatment of TMJ Disorders, headaches and migraines.

The following is the result of a web form submission from:
comments: I have an oral device (sonomed) for sleep apnea. It gave me TMJ
I haven't been able to tolerate cpap

Sleep Apnea Appliances Can Help Resolve TMJ Clicking and Improve Headache Symptoms

Patients with morning headaches usually have either TMJ disorders or Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea can be treated with CPAP or an Oral Appliance. Patients who have TM Joint clicking and are undergoing treatment for headaches or TMD can benefit in several ways from having a night-time apnea appliance and a daytime neuromuscular orthotic.

A problem that is sometimes encountered with oral appliances for sleep apnea are undesired bite changes. These changes can actually be helpful when treating TMJ clicking and popping and headaches. The bite changes that occur are actuallly the healing of the TM Joint. The jaw usually postures forward unloadding the retrodiscal lamina of the TM Joint that is compressed in patients with clicking. The retrodiscal lamina rehydrates and does not let the condyle go into retrusive pathology which serves to stabilize the disk.

The Daytime appliance allows this position to stabilize and heal. In patients who are not undergoing treatment exercises are done to prevent this healing from occuring. The joints will frequently heal if placed in a healthy position. A recent paper showed no damage to the joints with sleep appliances.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that dentists fitting patients with oral appliances for sleep apnea be well versed in treating TMJ disorders. There are many good reasons for this recomendation. Dentists who do not uderstand how bite changes affect the joints and the muscles as well as head posture can create difficult problems they do not have the expertise to treat. Please check my I HATE CPAP website (http://www.ihatecpap.com) for more information about the dangers of sleep apnea and on how oral appliances are used in treating sleep apnea.