Are you experiencing Jaw or Neck Pain?

By: The Doctors at Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois On July 27, 2011

You are not alone!  Approximately 33% of the population has at least one TMD symptom.

TMD, Temporomandibular disorder, is a collective term used for a number of clinical problems that involve chewing muscles, jaw joint (TMJ) and associated structure.  TMD is an extremely common disorder that is most often reported in individuals between the ages of 20 and 40.  Signs and symptoms to be aware of include:

  • pain in the head and neck muscles
  • limited mouth opening
  • joint sounds upon movement

TMD symptoms fluctuate over time and correlate significantly with muscle tension, tooth clenching and grinding, and other oral parafunctional habits.  Some social factors, like worry, stress, frustration and depression have an impact on TMD.

TMD can be the causative factor in:

  • ear pain
  • dizziness
  • ringing in the ears
  • neck pain
  • toothache

We find many of our patients seeking treatment have a break down in more than one of these systems.  TMD pain is by far the most common reason patients seek treatment.  The Good News?  There are a large number of potentially reversible conservative therapies we offer at Sherman Oaks Dental for TMD relief.

To learn more about the therapies we offer, please call our office, 630 369-5225, to schedule a consultation with Dr. Bryan Weyneth.

Sleep Apnea, Treatment and Insurance Coverage

By: The Doctors at Dental Sleep and TMD Center of Illinois On July 20, 2011

The Washington Post National provided a wonderful piece on coverage on July 11, 2011. We’re including a short excerpt plus link to the full article. We hope this information helps to answer your insurance questions.  Please call our office, 630 369-5225 or 1-800-SNORING for more information.

Health insurance usually covers treatment for apnea and other sleep disorders

By Michelle Andrews, Published: July 11

The diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders have come a long way in recent years. In the past, people who snored might be advised to sew a tennis ball onto the back of their pajama top. The “snore ball” would discourage them from sleeping on their back and might quiet their droning. Or a doctor might use the “dog index” to measure poor sleep: If your dog generally sleeps with you but by morning has left the bed more than half the time, it may be because you’re such a loud, restless sleeper that the dog has gone elsewhere for some peace and quiet.

Now, doctors with special training diagnose and treat more than 80 sleep disorders — from obstructive sleep apnea to narcolepsy — at special centers with labs where a patient’s every sleeping moment may be recorded and measured.

Insurance usually covers the diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems, with some exceptions. For example, snoring on its own is not a medical problem and insurance won’t cover its treatment, to the great disappointment of many a snorer’s bed partner.

Obstructive sleep apnea, which occurs in at least 2 to 4 percent of Americans, is another matter entirely. The consequences of untreated sleep apnea can be extremely serious.

FOLLOW THIS LINK TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE

retrived July 20, 2011 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/health-insurance-usually-covers-treatment-for-apnea-and-other-sleep-disorders/2011/07/07/gIQAQ0pU9H_story.html

DENTAL SLEEP AND TMD CENTER OF ILLINOIS

1100 SHERMAN AVE., SUITE 103 | NAPERVILLE, IL | PHONE: 630.369.5508