
Do you wake up with jaw pain? Frequent headaches? Or loud snoring and constant daytime fatigue? These may not be separate problems — they might share a common root. In the Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland area, our team is here to help you understand and treat the overlap between TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorders) and sleep apnea.
💤 The TMJ – Sleep Apnea Connection
- The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) connect your jawbone to your skull and control chewing, speaking, and more. When these joints become inflamed or misaligned, you may experience pain, clicking, locking, or muscle tension in the jaw.
- Sleep apnea (especially obstructive sleep apnea, OSA) occurs when your airway becomes partially or fully blocked during sleep. This leads to drops in blood oxygen, frequent awakenings, and often loud snoring.
- The relationship: structural or muscular imbalances in your jaw or bite can influence airway space, and conversely, airway collapse or compensatory patterns may strain your jaw muscles. Many patients with TMD also show signs of sleep-disordered breathing (and vice versa).
Because of this overlap, treating one condition without evaluating the other can leave symptoms unresolved.
✅ Why See an Orofacial Pain Specialist Here?
- Specialized training
An orofacial pain specialist is a dentist who completes extra, post-graduate training (often 2–3 years) focused on diagnosing and treating pain in the head, face, neck, and jaw — including TMD, neuralgias, and sleep-related breathing disorders. - Holistic diagnosis
At our practice, we look beyond just teeth or joints. We assess your airway, your bite alignment, muscle patterns, imaging studies, and your sleep history — coordinating with sleep physicians when needed. - Non-surgical, patient-centered care
Many cases of TMD + mild-to-moderate sleep apnea can be managed without surgery. We favor conservative treatments first: - Custom oral appliances (to reposition the jaw & support airway)
- Trigger-point injections or muscle therapies
- Bite balancing and lifestyle strategies
- Ongoing adjustments and monitoring
- Local care for Tri-Cities residents
We proudly serve patients in Kennewick, Pasco, Richland, and surrounding communities, so you don’t have to travel far for specialized care.
🗓️ What to Expect as a New Patient
- A detailed history (jaw symptoms, bite habits, sleep complaints)
- Examination of jaw joints, muscles, airway, and bite
- Imaging (CBCT, joint scans) as needed
- Review of any existing sleep studies
- Personalized treatment plan (often beginning with conservative interventions)
- Follow-up to adjust therapy and monitor progress
🌙 Is Oral Appliance Therapy a Good Fit?
Oral appliance therapy (OAT) uses a custom mouth device to gently shift the lower jaw forward. This helps keep your airway open while also relieving stress on the TMJ and surrounding muscles. Many patients prefer it to CPAP, particularly if CPAP is uncomfortable or not tolerated.
However, it’s not appropriate for every case — candidacy depends on your anatomy, severity of sleep apnea, and joint health. A full evaluation is essential.
🏙 Serving the Tri-Cities: Kennewick / Pasco / Richland
Whether you're in Kennewick, Pasco, or Richland, our goal is to bring you relief from jaw pain and better, more restful sleep.
If any of the following resonate:
- Waking with jaw soreness or stiffness
- Grinding or clenching your teeth
- Frequent headaches, especially in the morning
- Loud snoring, gasping, or pauses in breathing
- Daytime drowsiness, brain fog, irritability
…then it’s worth exploring whether your jaw and sleep are affecting each other.
📞 Contact our office today to schedule a comprehensive TMJ + sleep evaluation. Let us help you reclaim comfort, function, and restful nights.











