TMJ Treatment Wauwatosa

Our Approach to Better Overall Wellness

When a patient arrives complaining of chronic jaw, neck, head, and facial pain, it is usually a sign that TMJ disorder exists. Occurring as a result of inflammation or damage caused to the jaw joints, which are located on either side of the head at the base of the skull, it can be brought on by stress, a misaligned bite, facial trauma, or something equally as serious. While we understand that no two patients are alike, we aim to provide TMJ treatment in Wauwatosa that will improve each person’s unique case. Whether it is targeting frequent headaches, TMJ, facial nerve pain, or other extreme discomfort throughout the muscles, joints, and bones, we’re here to help.

Always Tired & Snoring

Because TMJ disorder can lead to issues like headaches and earaches, it’s likely that, along with those secondary effects, you will also experience sleep disruption. Additionally, your temporomandibular joints also hold the natural resting position of your jaw, so if they’re unbalanced, strained, and not in their proper position, it could cause your jaw to shift backwards while you sleep, causing slight airway obstruction and increasing the chances that you will snore.

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Jaw & Neck Pain

Jaw and neck pain go hand-in-hand with TMJ disorder due to the added strain and pressure on your face and neck muscles, as well as your jaw joints. This is often a result of either a past jaw injury or orthodontic issues that have led to long-term and chronic imbalance in the jaw joints. As a result of this disharmony, you’re much more likely to experience lockjaw, pain while chewing, reduced neck and jaw flexibility, and spasms and aches in the neck muscles.

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Headaches & Migraines

The headaches and migraines experienced due to TMJ disorder are typically a result of secondary teeth grinding, or bruxism, that often arises due to stressed and tension-filled facial muscles. Although this sounds like one of the least impactful symptoms on this page, it can have a big effect on your life, making it difficult to focus at work, causing you to need to keep a constant supply of headache medication with you, and ultimately affect your overall quality of life.

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Dentist with Superior Experience

If you’re looking for a dentist with the knowledge and experience to treat your TMJ or sleep-breathing disorder, you’ve come to the right place. Dr. Brunner is an expert who has been practicing at our dental office since 2005. His ability to perform exquisite full mouth rehabilitations led him to discover regularity among patients who practiced teeth grinding. Many exhibited TMJ symptoms as well as sleep issues and frequent headaches.

In 2017, he decided to learn how he could help those living with chronic jaw, neck, head, and facial pain as well as those who are unable to get the sleep they need. Devoting 500 hours to continuing education courses, he became well-versed in the diagnosis of TMJ and sleep breathing disorders, training with some of the world’s experts. As a result, he is now only one of five dentists in southeast Wisconsin who is board-certified by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.

As a member of this organization, he also maintains active memberships in the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, American Academy of Orofacial Pain, American Dental Association, Wisconsin Dental Association, and the Waukesha County Dental Association.

Dr. Brunner’s involvement and commitment to treating patients with TMJ and sleep-disordered breathing led to our dental office being the only one in the state that is certified by the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International. 

Wisconsin’s Only Certified Centre

Certified by the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International, the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Wisconsin is one of 60 certified practices in 7 countries. Based on standardized protocols created by Dr. Steven Olmos, the founder of the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International, our practice maintains high levels of efficacy. Certification of this level requires that doctors and additional staff complete various education and training programs through TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre International. As a result, Dr. Brunner and his team are valued members of the international community that is dedicated to helping those throughout the world achieve a better quality of life.

Others We Have Helped

If you’re suffering from these common symptoms of TMJ disorder, we encourage you to consider coming in for an evaluation. With well over a decade of experience and dedication to helping his patients find much-needed relief, Dr. Brunner and our team at Elmbrook Family Dental of Wauwatosa have had the opportunity to change hundreds of lives. We invite you to hear our patient’s stories by clicking on the link below, and don’t forget to call and schedule your very own appointment with us, too!

Browse Our Video Testimonial Library

Our Sleep & TMJ Services

The treatments patients can expect to receive at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Wisconsin are comprehensive and research-based. Using the latest technologies to improve daily living, we cater each patient’s treatment plan to their needs, ensuring that the underlying problem is our targeted focus. While addressing the symptoms is important, we remain committed to getting to the root of the problem so that long-term success is achieved.

Whether it is treating a person’s headaches, TMJ, or facial pain (craniofacial region), or their sleep apnea or snoring, we can do so without surgery.

This is accomplished, in part, by integrating innovative technologies that are not commonly found in other practices, such as:

CBCT Imaging

Our CBCT (Cone Beam) Imaging system captures hundreds of images during a single 360-degree rotation around the head. The scans are projected onto a nearby monitor using an iCAT imaging system, which is three-dimensional. This allows for a higher-resolution model so that our team can easily visualize the structure of a patient’s jaw joints, airway, and surrounding oral and facial structures.

Joint Vibration Analysis

When attempting to treat TMJ disorder (TMJD), we use our joint vibration analysis (JVA) system. Designed to monitor and record the vibrations that occur when the jaw joints move, we can more accurately diagnose TMJD. While a patient or member of our team may be unable to hear the type of joint vibrations that occur within the jaw, this device picks them up through accelerometers that create a wave pattern based on the internal joint vibrations. Once compared to other types of vibrations, we can monitor the joint while a person undergoes treatment.

MLS Cold Laser

TMJD is known to cause inflammation and pain – two factors that can make it hard for patients to enjoy day-to-day life. However, with the MLS Cold Laser, we can use this advanced laser therapy system to reduce swelling and quicken the healing process. This can be used in place of pain medications because the laser helps to stimulate the problem area. One of the added benefits of using the MLS Cold Laser is that it takes little time (only 10 minutes), is completely painless, and has no ill side effects.

State-of-the-Art Custom Oral Appliances

One of the most commonly used forms of TMJ treatment is an oral appliance. Customized based on each patient’s needs, these devices reduce jaw pain and headaches, providing substantial support and protection to the TMJ while resting in the proper position. Once equipped with an oral appliance, patients can expect follow-up care so that we can re-evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.