TMJ & TMD - Dentist Serving Quincy, MA

Meet the doctors

Dr. Yumi Ogata

Dr. Ogata is a Board-certified Periodontist, which means she is specialized in Periodontics and Implant Surgery. Dr. Ogata received her D.D.S. degree in 2006 and completed a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Japan.

She obtained her D.M.D. degree and completed the Advanced Education Program in Periodontology at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) along with her Master of Science Degree (MS) in Biology.

Dr. Ogata is an Associate Professor in the Department of Periodontology at Tufts. She is actively involved in teaching, clinical research, and mentoring research projects for periodontal residents and dental students. Her research has focused on testing and enhancing procedures for bone regeneration in dental implant therapy. She also received extensive training in evidence-based dentistry.

Dr. Ogata has won many awards and grants. Most recently, she received the Award for Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring in Periodontics from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) in 2019. She is an active member of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), Cochrane Oral Health Group (COHG), American Dental Education Association (ADEA), Japanese Academy of Clinical Periodontology, and the Japanese Society of Periodontology.

Dr. Katarina Pavlicic

Dr. Pavlicic is a graduate of the Boston University Dental School. In 2005, she attended Lutheran Medical Center’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) program and was awarded a Certificate of Advanced Dental Graduate Study.

Dr. Pavlicic graduated from the world-renowned Misch International Implant Institute and the Kois Center for Advanced Dentistry.

Dr. Pavlicic has been Oral Sedation DOCS Certified since 2006.

Dr. Natali Nunez

Dr. Natali Nunez was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She decided to pursue a career in dentistry at a young age. She attended the University of Southern California, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion & Disease Prevention.

She went on to obtain Doctor of Dental Surgery and Master of Public Health degrees from Columbia University in New York City, where she graduated with Honors.

After dental school, Dr. Nunez completed advanced specialty training in endodontics at Harvard University and received a Master of Medical Sciences in Oral Biology from Harvard Medical School. Her research at Harvard focused on the relationship between clinical symptoms and oral biomarkers.

As a practitioner, Dr. Nunez prides herself on her compassion and on creating a supportive environment for her patients of all ages. She is passionate about education and emphasizes the connection between oral health and overall health. Dr. Nunez’s extensive training has ideally positioned her to provide outstanding patient-centered care at the vanguard of endodontic treatment. Dr. Nunez currently serves on the board of the Massachusetts Association of Endodontists and teaches at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. In her free time, Dr. Nunez enjoys yoga, cooking, food styling, and photography.

TMJ & TMD & Botox

If you’ve ever had pain in your jaw, you may be suffering from TMJ or TMD. These are two common conditions that can cause a lot of discomforts. Here’s what you need to know about each condition and how you can find relief. TMJ stands for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. If you’re one of the 10 million Americans affected by temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), you know how painful and frustrating the condition can be. This condition is caused by a misalignment of the jaw, which can be due to a number of factors, including teeth grinding, arthritis, or even stress. The temporomandibular joint is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull. If you have TMJ, you may experience pain in your jaw, clicking or popping sounds when you move your jaw or even headaches.

There are both non-surgical and surgical treatments for TMJ. One common treatment for TMJ is orthodontic treatment, using mouthguards or splints to protect the joint. Also, physical therapy is used to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the joint, as well as anti-inflammatory medication.

This can involve braces or other devices that help to align the teeth and jaw. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the alignment of the jaw. Another treatment option for TMJ is physical therapy. This can help to stretch and strengthen the muscles around the jaw, which can help to reduce pain.

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Massage therapy and acupuncture are also sometimes used to treat TMJ. TMD stands for Temporomandibular Dysfunction. This is a condition that affects the muscles and tissues around your jaw. If you have TMD, you may experience pain in your jaw, neck, or shoulders, headaches, or even ear pain.

Once a diagnosis of TMD is made, the goal of treatment is to reduce pain and improve jaw function. Treatment may include a combination of self-care measures, medication, and dental or orthopedic devices.

Self-care measures for TMD include avoiding foods that are hard to chew, eating soft foods, and avoiding large bites. You should also avoid chewing gum and biting your nails. Applying ice to the jaw can help reduce pain and swelling.

Medications that may be used to treat TMD include pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, we would administer injections of botulinum toxin (Botox) into the jaw muscles.

Dental or orthopedic devices, such as mouthguards and splints, can also help treat TMD. These devices help to reduce jaw muscle tension and protect the teeth from grinding or clenching.

If you are suffering from TMJ and TMD, please get in touch with us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Pavlicic and Dr. Ogata. We will be happy to answer any of your questions and help you make the best treatment plan for your oral health.

Botox for TMJ Relief

Botox is a popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure involving injecting a diluted form of botulinum toxin into specific facial muscles. The procedure is often used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but it can also treat various medical conditions, including temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.

Botox works by effectively relaxing muscles, preventing them from contracting as strongly as before and making you unable to grind your teeth and clench your jaw through stress. This could not only benefit your teeth and jaw muscles on a long-term basis, but it may also eradicate headaches altogether. TMJ disorder is a condition that affects the joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull. It can cause symptoms such as pain, difficulty opening and closing the mouth, and clicking or popping sounds when moving the jaw.

The procedure for injecting Botox for TMJ disorder typically involves the following steps:

First, you are seated comfortably in an upright position.

The skin around the TMJ area is cleaned with an antiseptic solution, and small marks may be made on the skin indicating the areas to be injected.

Dr. Ogata will use a very fine needle to inject small amounts of Botox into muscles in the TMJ area.The injection process takes just a few minutes and is typically well tolerated by patients.

After the procedure, you may experience mild discomfort or swelling at the injection site, but these side effects typically resolve within a few days. The effects of the Botox injections may take a few days to become apparent, and they typically last for several months.

It is important to note that Botox is not a permanent solution for TMJ disorder, and repeat injections may be necessary to maintain the desired effects.