University of Minnesota School of Dentistry - TMD, Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine Clinic

The TMD, Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine Clinic is a specialized division of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, located within the Malcolm Moos Health Sciences Tower at 515 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455. This clinic operates as an integral part of an academic institution, serving both as a patient care facility and a training ground for dental residents pursuing advanced education in Orofacial Pain, which became an ADA-recognized specialty in 2020. The clinic provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for a wide range of complex conditions related to temporomandibular disorders (TMD), chronic orofacial pain, and dental sleep medicine. This includes, but is not limited to, jaw pain (often referred to as TMJ pain), jaw clicking, locking of the temporomandibular joint, difficulty using the jaw, chronic headaches (including migraines and tension-type headaches), neuropathic pain conditions (like trigeminal neuralgia), burning mouth syndrome, and sleep-related breathing disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). A key aspect of their approach is the integration of multidisciplinary care. Patients may be evaluated and treated by a team of specialists that can include dentists, physical therapists, and health psychologists, among other physician specialists as needed. Treatment plans are highly individualized and may involve a combination of therapies such as supervised home programs, exercises, habit modification, oral appliance therapy (e.g., custom-fitted night guards for bruxism or mandibular advancement devices for sleep apnea), therapeutic injections (including Botox for chronic migraine and TMJ-related pain), biofeedback, behavioral modification, pharmacotherapy, acupuncture, and nerve blocks. As a specialty clinic within a university setting, they emphasize evidence-based practices and are involved in both clinical care and ongoing research. They accept most medical insurance plans, given that these conditions are often covered under medical rather than dental insurance. Patients are typically referred to this specialty clinic, either from the university's comprehensive care clinics or from private practices, though direct contact is also possible. The clinic is committed to improving access to interdisciplinary care for patients suffering from these often debilitating conditions, aiming to enhance comfort and function.