Relief From TMJ Pain
Starts Here
Jaw pain, clicking, headaches, and facial tension are not things you have to live with. Our dedicated TMJ & Orofacial Pain Clinic — led by Sam Bloch, RDH, and Dr. Jan Bublik — helps central Wisconsin patients finally find lasting relief.
Schedule a Consultation 715-391-3080Meet Sam Bloch, RDH
Samantha Bloch, RDH
Sam leads the TMJ & Orofacial Pain Clinic at Bublik Dental. As a Registered Dental Hygienist and Myofunctional Oral Therapist, she brings a rare combination of clinical expertise and genuine compassion to every patient she sees.
Too many people with chronic jaw pain have been told their symptoms aren't real, aren't treatable, or aren't that bad. Sam doesn't accept that. She listens, she digs deeper, and she works alongside Dr. Bublik to build a treatment plan that addresses the root cause of your pain — not just the symptoms.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull — one on each side of your face. When this joint or the muscles surrounding it become inflamed, misaligned, or damaged, it causes a cascade of painful symptoms often referred to as TMJ disorder or TMD.
Jaw Pain or Soreness
Aching in or around the jaw joint, especially in the morning or after eating
Clicking or Popping
Audible sounds when opening or closing your mouth — may or may not be painful
Chronic Headaches
Tension headaches or migraines originating from jaw muscle tension and bite problems
Ear Pain or Fullness
Pain, ringing, or a feeling of fullness in the ears with no identifiable ear condition
Limited Jaw Opening
Difficulty opening your mouth fully, or your jaw locking open or closed
Neck & Shoulder Pain
Muscle tension radiating from the jaw into the neck, shoulders, and upper back
Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Unconscious clenching or grinding — often at night — that strains the TMJ
Facial Pain or Fatigue
General aching or tiredness in the face, especially around the temples and cheeks
What Causes TMJ Disorders?
TMJ disorders rarely have a single cause. Most cases involve a combination of structural, behavioral, and systemic factors that our clinic evaluates comprehensively before recommending treatment.
- Bite misalignment (malocclusion) placing uneven stress on the joint
- Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) — often stress-related
- Jaw injury or trauma — even injuries from years ago
- Arthritis affecting the temporomandibular joint
- Displacement or erosion of the joint disc
- Missing teeth changing bite mechanics over time
- Stress and anxiety causing chronic muscle tension
- Connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome causing joint hypermobility
How We Diagnose Your TMJ Condition
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective TMJ treatment. Sam and Dr. Bublik use a thorough, multi-step evaluation process to understand exactly what is driving your symptoms.
Comprehensive Symptom Review
Detailed discussion of your pain history, triggers, duration, and how symptoms affect your daily life
Clinical Examination
Assessment of jaw range of motion, muscle tenderness, joint sounds, and bite alignment
Myofunctional Assessment
Sam evaluates tongue posture, breathing patterns, swallowing mechanics, and muscle function that may be contributing to TMJ strain
3D CBCT Imaging
Cone beam CT scanning reveals bone structure, joint position, and structural abnormalities invisible on standard X-rays
Personalized Treatment Plan
A clear diagnosis with a written treatment plan, timeline, and cost breakdown before any treatment begins
How We Treat TMJ Disorders
We always start with the most conservative, least invasive treatment options. Surgery is only considered when conservative approaches have been exhausted. Most patients achieve significant relief without surgery.
Myofunctional Therapy
Sam uses orofacial myofunctional therapy to retrain the muscles of the mouth, tongue, and face — correcting dysfunctional patterns that contribute to TMJ strain and supporting long-term jaw stability.
Occlusal Splints & Night Guards
Custom-fitted oral appliances that reposition the jaw, reduce grinding pressure, and allow muscles to relax. Often the first and most effective treatment.
Bite Equilibration
Carefully reshaping tooth surfaces to create a balanced bite that distributes forces evenly across the joint — reducing strain and pain.
Trigger Point Injections
Targeted injections into tense jaw muscles to release painful trigger points and provide immediate relief while longer-term solutions take effect.
Botox for Jaw Clenching
Therapeutic Botox injections into the masseter muscle reduce the force of clenching and grinding, providing months of relief.
Surgical Intervention
For severe cases unresponsive to conservative care — arthroscopy, joint lavage, or open joint surgery performed by Dr. Bublik's surgical team.
TMJ & Sleep-Disordered Breathing: A Common Connection
TMJ disorders and sleep-disordered breathing — including snoring and obstructive sleep apnea — frequently coexist. The same muscle dysfunction, airway restrictions, and jaw positioning issues that drive TMJ pain can also disrupt breathing during sleep.
Sam and Dr. Bublik evaluate both conditions together. When TMJ treatment and dental sleep medicine are coordinated, patients often see improvement in jaw pain, sleep quality, and overall wellbeing at the same time. If you've been diagnosed with sleep apnea or suspect you may have it, bring it up during your TMJ consultation — it matters more than most providers realize.
Hypermobility & Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: We Understand
If you have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) or a Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder, you know how difficult it can be to find providers who take your jaw pain seriously. Research shows that TMJ disorders affect roughly 65% of people with EDS — yet many are told their symptoms are unrelated or untreatable.
Our clinic recognizes the unique challenges of treating TMJ dysfunction in hypermobile patients. Lax connective tissue changes the way the jaw joint functions, making it vulnerable to subluxation, disc displacement, and chronic muscle fatigue in ways that standard TMJ protocols don't always address. Sam and Dr. Bublik account for tissue fragility and joint instability in every treatment plan.
We stay connected with the EDS community through organizations like The Ehlers-Danlos Society and resources like the Bendy Bodies podcast — because understanding these patients means listening to the community, not just reading a textbook.
Specialized Training in Orofacial Pain
TMJ disorders require providers who understand both the surgical and non-surgical aspects of jaw anatomy and function. Dr. Bublik and Sam bring complementary expertise to every case.
ICOI Diplomate
Dr. Bublik — elite designation in oral implantology and surgical expertise
PhD Candidate
Dr. Bublik — active doctoral research in the latest science
Myofunctional Therapist
Sam Bloch, RDH — specialized orofacial myology training
Advanced 3D Imaging
CBCT cone beam technology for precise joint and bone assessment
TMJ Treatment FAQ
Stop Living With Jaw Pain
You don't have to accept chronic jaw pain, headaches, or clicking as your normal. Schedule a TMJ consultation with Sam and Dr. Bublik and find out what's really causing your symptoms — and what we can do about it. Serving Wausau, Weston, Rhinelander, Stevens Point, and all of central Wisconsin.
Bublik Dental Implant and Surgical Center · 2620 Stewart Ave, Suite 218, Wausau, WI 54401