Our Evaluation & Treatment Process
Your first visit is all about listening, understanding, and creating a clear path toward lasting relief.
At Advanced TMJ Maxillofacial Pain & Sleep Center, our goal is to understand the full picture of your condition before beginning any treatment. Because orofacial pain and TMJ disorders often involve multiple overlapping systems, muscular, joint, nerve, and sleep, we take a thorough and evidence-based approach to evaluation and diagnosis.
TMD, Facial Pain & Headache
Pre-visit: Comprehensive Intake
You’ll complete detailed intake forms to help us understand your pain and daily challenges atleast 24 hours prior to the visit. The provider reviews all the forms you have filled before the visit.
1st Visit:
Initial Diagnosis & Treatment
​The provider discusses about your pain complaints. Only one complaint can be addressed during the visit. A focused exam is performed on your jaw joints (TMJ), facial and neck muscles, and cranial nerves. Based on your initial exam, a tentative treatment plan is created.
Additional testing or imaging (CBCT/MRI) may be recommended, if needed.
2nd Visit: Review and Modify Treatment
A follow-up appointment is scheduled a few weeks after your initial evaluation to review your pain improvement and any new radiological findings. Additional tests as needed may be prescribed at this visit and treatment plan will be further modified as necessary. We focus on minimally-invasive, conservative, and evidence-based therapies. Our goal is to relieve pain, restore function, and improve quality of life
Treatment Visits and Regular Follow-up
Your treatment visits based on your plan. We will monitor your progress regularly, and set up follow-up appointments to discuss tweaks, changes or alternate approaches as needed. Everyone's journey to pain relief is different, and we are here to help you every step of the way.
Sleep Apnea
Pre-visit: Comprehensive Intake
You’ll complete detailed sleep and medical intake forms to help us understand your symptoms, prior sleep testing, medical conditions, and insurance requirements.
1st Visit:
Clinical Exam and Imaging
Your first visit includes a focused clinical evaluation of your airway, jaw, teeth, bite, and head and neck structures. Diagnostic imaging and intraoral scanning are performed as needed to assess airway anatomy and appliance suitability. Based on this visit, we determine whether oral appliance therapy is appropriate for you.
Insurance: Submit for Preauthorization
We prepare and submit the required clinical documentation to your insurance for preauthorization. This may include office notes, imaging findings, sleep study reports, prescription and medical necessity documentation. Insurance approval is not guaranteed, and you will be informed of coverage status once a decision is received.
2nd Visit: Impression
3rd Visit: Delivery
Once approved, your custom oral appliance is fabricated with a digital impression and delivered after a few weeks. We provide detailed instructions, make initial adjustments, and monitor comfort and effectiveness. Follow-up visits are scheduled to optimize fit and continue therapy, with semi-annual or annual checkups to ensure appliance fit and monitor for bite changes
Meet The Doctor
Dr. Hemamalini Chandrashekhar
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Orofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine Specialist
Our founder, is an internationally-trained Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, American Board-Certified Orofacial Pain Specialist, and a Diplomate of American Board of Orofacial Pain as well as Diplomate of American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, which is the highest level of credentialling and expertise in the respective fields. She brings over 15 years of global experience in clinical care, academics, and research.
Trained at multiple prestigious institutions in the U.S., including UCLA, Boston University and Rutgers University, and internationally, Dr. Chandrashekhar brings a unique blend of minimally-invasive pain management expertise and surgical experience to every patient encounter.