FAQs
For Patients
Your Commonly Asked Questions, Answered
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Is treatment for TMJ covered by dental insurance?
In our experience, dental insurance companies generally cover very little (to none) of the treatment costs. However, every plan is different and you can ask your insurance provider to give you an estimate of what part of treatment, if any, they will cover.
Are your consultations and treatment covered by OHIP?
Dr. Goodfellow is a dentist. Nothing he does is covered by OHIP.
Do you direct bill insurance companies?
We do not direct bill insurance companies. Our patients pay us and we provide them with a receipt that they can submit to their insurance provider.
Do over-the-counter, boil-and-bite appliances help with sleep apnea and TMJ problems?
Boil-and-bite appliances are bulky and loose fitting, and can narrow your airway. They will not work as well as a custom-made appliance.
Do you do general dentistry in your office (e.g. fillings, root canals, cleanings)?
Dr. Goodfellow’s practice is limited to cranialfacial pain and sleep-breathing disorders. He does no general dentistry at this clinic.
How dangerous is sleep apnea? What happens if I don’t treat my sleep apnea?
Sleep apnea is extremely dangerous. Stopping, or almost stopping, breathing many times each hour causes an interruption of sleep. It causes the brain to be aroused many times, which creates an inflammatory response in the whole body. This can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, and heart attacks in adults, and bed wetting, and ADHD in children.
I just got diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. Can I wear an oral appliance instead of using a CPAP?
According to the American Board of Sleep Medicine, if you have mild to moderate sleep apnea, the treatment of choice is an oral appliance. However, if you have severe sleep apnea the first treatment you must try is a CPAP. If you are unable to tolerate a CPAP, then you can treat your sleep apnea with an oral appliance.
Why do men snore more than women?
Actually, they don’t. Snoring in men is just noticed more by their bed partners/family.
I’m not overweight. Could I still have sleep apnea?
Absolutely. We have diagnosed moderate sleep apnea in thin teenage girls and fit, athletic men in their 30’s.
How do I know if I have sleep apnea?
You may suspect sleep apnea from frequent awakenings and constant fatigue but sleep apnea can only be diagnosed by a sleep physician from a sleep test.
Is snoring genetic?
Snoring is caused by the vibration of the tissues of the oropharynx. Snoring is not genetic, but anatomy that lends to snoring might be.
What is the difference between TMJ and TMD?
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is an anatomic term. TMD stands for tmporomandibular dysfunction, which is the name of a syndrome.
When I wear the nightguard my dentist made me it makes my jaw worse. Why?
Patients often have a TMJ problem from clenching and grinding their teeth while sleeping. This can be attributed to the nervous system moving your jaw in an attempt to keep your airway open while you sleep. When you wear your nightguard, you have more surface area to clench on plus, the nightguard can reduce the size of your airway, causing even more muscle activity to keep your airway open. More muscle tightness leads to more pain.
Are TMJ problems common during adolescence?
Surprisingly, yes. TMJ issues can come from clenching and grinding your teeth during the night, while asleep. This can lead to tight muscles and jaw problems. In children and adolescents, TMJ and sleep problems often go undiscovered.
Do you use Botox to treat TMJ issues?
Botox is the injection of a neurotoxin into your jaw and head muscles to kill the nerves that cause your muscles to contract. About 33% of the nerves become paralyzed, making the force of contraction less. Botox only deals with your symptoms, not the cause of the problem. While Dr. Goodfellow is certified to give Botox injections, he decided long ago not to do them as he seems to be able to reduce the cause of TMJ problems significantly using oral appliances.
I was diagnosed with a dislocated TMJ disc but have no pain. Should I go for a treatment to reposition my disc?
If your jaw clicks or pops when you open your mouth, you have a dislocated TMJ disc. If clicking/popping is your only symptom, no treatment is needed.
I just found out that I have a dislocated disc in my TMJ. Is this common?
A dislocated disc happens to about 33% of the population.
Learn more about what our patients have to say
about the TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of the Greater Toronto Area
Jill Krstajic2024-10-31 It is not an understatement to say that Dr Goodfellow and his staff have greatly improved the quality of my life! My TMJ pain was unbearable and as a Dental Hygienist I was actually skeptical that the treatment would work, it did and I am grateful! I would gladly recommend Dr Goodfellow for anyone suffering TMJ and Sleep Issues. Lanndis De Lallo2024-09-30 This device changed my life. I have had TMJ for as long as I can remember with a long history of orthodontic work from childhood. For the first time as an adult, I can control my jaw pain, clicking, locking and tension headaches with the night time appliance, which I wear every night - I can feel the difference even going one night without it. The daytime appliance also makes a big difference and now I can wear it periodically. Dr. Goodfellow, Cathie, Tina and the entire team are delightful, helpful and I can't thank them enough for helping me implement this life changing, non-surgical solution to my TMJ! Steve McDonald2024-09-19 Before being treated by Dr. Goodfellow I had severe jaw pain so bad I sometimes could hardly eat. That pain is now virtually gone. I am so grateful and I highly recommend Dr. Goodfellow! Julia Leclerc2024-07-23 I suffered from severe jaw pain and eventually jaw locking. Dr. Goodfellow not only was able to diagnose the issue, he was able to completely redirect my jaw and sleeping patterns with the mouth guard that I now wear to sleep every night. I don’t even get headaches anymore! The difference has been incredible and I am forever grateful. Highly recommend Dr. Goodfellow and his staff. Sandy Hale2024-07-09 I feel very positive about the treatment I received from Dr. Goodfellow and his team over a six month period. My TMJ disorder symptoms have been resolved to the point where I am almost pain free every day. Dr. Goodfellow helped me to understand both the causes of my jaw issues and how the treatments would work towards healing. His staff are friendly, accommodating and extremely knowledgeable and helped to allay any fears I had about treatments. I highly recommend TMJ & Sleep Therapy to any and all persons suffering from TMJ disorders. Anthony Hajsan2024-07-04 Dr. Goodfellow is a good fellow (I know, so original)! This is the only place that has helped with my TMJ. oren dishy2024-04-02 I've had a click in my jaw for over 30 years and over the past year it was constant pain and difficulty chewing. Dr. Goodfellow and his staff provided me with a non-invasive appliance one for the day and one for night and within 6 months I was pain and click free. It's as if I have brand new jaw with no issues whatsoever. Without a doubt, the best medical treatment I've ever received. I would give six stars if it was available. Paula Carmona-Murphy2024-01-22 After years of dealing with TMJ pain (and trying different types of appliances) I saw Dr. Goodfellow. I am thrilled with the results. Dr. Goodfellow and his staff are amazing! Shicheng Wu2024-01-11 Solved on my jaw pain and overbite issues in an efficient way.