TMJ Disorders and Orofacial Pain Specialist
Dental Sleep Medicine
NEW PATIENT
CONSULTATION
Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD), Jaw Pain, Face Pain, TMJ Noises
Dr. Buchanan will listen to your history of discomfort and guide you through the process of identifying the underlying cause of your problem. She will do a physical examination of your jaw, head, and neck and give you a diagnosis.
Dr. Buchanan will utilize her expertise to develop a treatment plan that is individually tailored to your specific needs.
SYMPTOMS
TMD, JAW PAIN, CLICKING
Jaw Pain
Jaw Noises
Teeth Grinding
Limited Range of Motion
Jaw Locking
Tooth Pain of Unknown Origin
Recent Changes in Bite
HEADACHES, NECK OR EAR PAIN
Undefined neck, shoulder, or face pain.
Undefined Ear Pain.
Headaches or Migraines.
Generalized Pain Primarily from the neck, jaw, and shoulders
PEDIATRIC EVALUATION
Juvenile jaw disorders, pre-orthodontic evaluation of jaw joints, and screening for sleep breathing disorders.
TREATMENT
Dr. Buchanan will provide you with a customized treatment plan. Some treatment plan options include:
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Dr. Buchanan works with select physical therapists throughout the Bay Area who are specially trained in treating jaw pain problems.
APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
TMJ/TMD INITIAL CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT
Your initial appointment with Dr. Buchanan is 90 minutes. Dr. Buchanan will have a conversation with you to evaluate your current symptoms and health history. She will do a thorough examination of your jaw and give you a diagnosis. Together you will discuss your customized treatment plan. Dr. Buchanan will send you a summary report of your appointment which will also be sent to your healthcare providers. You may or may not need a follow-up appointment with Dr. Buchanan depending on your diagnosis and treatment plan.
Payment is required at the time of your appointment. We are not contracted with any insurance companies, nor do we do any insurance billing. If you have PPO insurance we will provide you with the medical form which you can submit. We have opted out of Medicare.
Please see our Self-Care For Jaw Pain & Tension recommendations below.
SELF-CARE FOR JAW PAIN & TENSION
Jennifer Buchanan DDS
Orofacial Pain Specialist
SLEEP
Get good sleep any way you can. Create a consistent sleep schedule with the same bedtime and wake-up time each day. Limit your screen time at night and turn off all devices at least an hour before bedtime. Taking a hot shower or bath before bed can help you get to sleep. Be sure the room you sleep in is a comfortable temperature and dark.
MEDICATIONS
You can use over-the-counter pain medications per instructions on the bottle. Use medications prescribed by your doctor or talk with your doctor about possible medications.
SOFT DIET
If it hurts to chew, back off and eat something softer. Avoid biting into things with your front teeth; cut up food into smaller bites. Sometimes, it helps to chew on the side that hurts.
USE HEAT and/or COLD
I am often asked whether cold or hot packs are recommended, and I recommend trying various combinations to see what feels best; your body will tell you what feels good. There is good data on cold followed by heat. In my anecdotal experience with cold and heat, I have noticed that applying cold is helpful when there is inflammation and nervous system pain. I have many patients who put an ice pack at the base of the skull/top of the neck when they have migraine pain, and it is soothing. A very sore, inflamed jaw joint is sometimes soothed with an ice pack. Generally, applying a heat pack on tight, sore muscles is soothing and helpful for pain. Sometimes, I will have a patient tell me that they put a heating pad on their neck and an ice pack on their jaw, or vice versa. Again, it is best to try them in various combinations and see what feels best. If you can do this 3-5 times per day, you will start feeling changes in your muscle and joint pain problem about 5 days later. Keep doing it!
REST & RELAX the JAW, TONGUE, & NECK
Remember, your teeth shouldn’t touch together during the day.
I recommend the following 4 steps when you want to change daytime clenching patterns. When you notice your teeth are touching or your jaw is braced, the steps to change this are:
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Relax your jaw and remind yourself your teeth can have space between them.
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Take a slow, deep breath that allows the belly and back rib cage to soften and expand.
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Mobilize your rib cage- this can look like softly rolling your shoulders, side bending your upper body, or gently back bending your upper body.
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Puff your cheeks with air, like you were Dizzy Gillespie (look him up on Google Images for a picture)
You are changing a profound habit, and you might do this 100 times per day when you start. Keep practicing! It will often be immediately helpful for your pain, and will also be helpful over the long term.