Our dentist understands that each patient has unique needs, anatomy, and dental issues. When you come to our New York office, we spend time evaluating and accurately diagnosing your condition so we can recommend a custom therapeutic plan that will restore your oral health, comfort, and jaw function.

Dr. Dolgos is trained in a highly predictable and effective protocol for TMJ disorder. It was developed by a local dentist, Dr. Robert S. Kull, who worked exclusively with TMJ patients for more than 20 years. Dr. Dolgos has further refined this technique to provide relief for patients.

Our dentist understands how your overall health and wellness is affected by problems with your jaw and breathing airways. We believe these are critical parts of the body; by achieving optimal function, our therapeutic approach can help patients achieve a deeper level of healing.

I had suffered from extreme headaches, face pain and neck pain for several years. Everyone thought it was my wisdom teeth (it was not). After going through treatment with Buffalo TMJ and receiving my jaw appliance I have had little to no pain ever since. Now I only need to wear it maybe every few months when I feel a little pain, and it goes away the next day. Has improved my life so much!!

I went to Buffalo TMJ after a car accident and they treated me like if I a was their patient for years. Very friendly and carying staff. Dr. Dolgos was very helpful explaining every step of the procedures and recovery. They made sure that my jaw pain was fully treated. I had the best experience with them and recommend them to everyone.

If you are experiencing oral discomfort or inhibited functions due to TMJ disorder or sleep apnea, our dentist can help. There are several ways to treat these conditions, but determining the most effective approach can be challenging.

Dr. Dolgos offers a range of TMJ therapy options at hisOrchard Park office, including orthotic therapy, TMJ prolotherapy, BOTOX, trigger point injections, muscle relaxants, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), laser biostimulation, and physical therapy. These therapies can provide relief from symptoms such as lockjaw, pain, tenderness, bruxism difficult chewing, and muscle spasms.

Sleep apnea may result in symptoms that can increase the risk of TMJ disorder. As the body works to open the airways, patients may involuntarily grind or clench their teeth. Oral appliances, similar to mouth guards, can be used to treat sleep apnea and keep the airways clear. We prefer EMA or Elastic Mandibular Advancement appliances; as a certified EMA lab technician, Dr. Dolgos makes all EMA appliances himself.

I grew up in Avon, NY, a small town just south of Rochester. Growing up in a small town helped me to recognize the value of integrity at a young age. You couldnt step out of line for very long because everyone in town knew everyone elses business.

I attended St. John Fisher College, where I studied English and Chemistry. My dental school training is what originally brought me to Buffalo, NY, where I studied for four years at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. After earning my DDS, I was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the US Air Force, and stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base. There I completed a one-year Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency, and then served two additional years at a small pilot-training base in Columbus, Mississippi.

After leaving the Air Force, my wife Amy and I moved to Ashburn, Virginia, and I entered the competitive world of Private Practice Dentistry. Amy and I moved back to the New York in 2001 after the birth of our twin daughters, opening our practice in Orchard Park. We enjoyed living in Virginia very much, but our families live here in Western New York, and we decided that relationships with extended family would be an important aspect in the development of the young personalities we would be bringing into existence. I cant imagine being more grateful for being able to raise my children, with my beautiful wife, in this particular setting.

Over the years I have engaged in an ongoing search for knowledge, and for the truth. I spent many hours studying advanced dental techniques at the prestigious Pankey Institute in Key Biscayne, Florida. To this day, my memories of the Pankey Institute serve as a kind of home base when I feel professionally lost. I earned a fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry in 2003, and I taught clinical dentistry one day per week at the UB Dental School for 5 years from 2004-2008. I became a certified instructor with the Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry in 2008, where I continue to teach laser physics and the LANAP family of protocols when I am needed. In 2012, I earned a fellowship in the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, giving me the confidence I needed to focus my practice primarily on the diagnosis and care of TMJ Dysfunction and facial pain conditions.

My educational pursuits have not been limited to the dental field. I have studied physical therapy, anatomy, nutrition, craniosacral therapy, homeopathy, kinesiology, psychology, sociology, and human behavior. I became a Reiki Master a few years ago, and I believe strongly that most, if not all, disease begins in the subtle energy field. As my pursuits lead me further and further into the study of consciousness and its influences on the nervous system, I will continue to incorporate a wide variety of techniques and therapeutic modalities into my diagnostic efforts and therapeutic protocols.

Many patients that visit our Buffalo area dental practice are familiar with phrases such as temporomandibular joint disorders, temporomandibular disorders, TMJ disorders, or TMD, but may be left wondering what exactly is the difference between all these terms?

Disorders of the temporomandibular joint can cause widespread issues that compromise your everyday life. Patients suffering from TMJ oftentimes struggle with painful headaches caused by the clenching and teeth grinding that are telltale signs of TMD.

Unlike some other doctors, Dr. Dolgos takes a holistic approach to treating this common concern. We focus on simple, easy-to-usesolutions. Treatments such as occlusal splints not only provide relief for TMJ issues but can also help alleviate bruxism and minor sleep apnea.

I am so happy to have my daughter and my mom coming here. Dr Dolgos and his staff are supper nice and professional. Its like a family there and your part of it....and the best thing...his treatment plans work!!!!!!

I have had great success following Dr. Dolgoss treatment protocol. I began as his patient in August, 2017 after a painful Spring and Summer. My jaw hurt anytime I tried to chew, yawn or open very wide. I was scared, losing weight and my condition was depressing, as it was affecting my ability to socialize with others around food. My dentist realized the problem was with my jaw and referred me to Buffalo TMJ. Dr. Dolgos was gentle, patient and compassionate about my condition, as was his staff when he did his assessment of my jaw...

I highly recommend Dr.Dolgos and his staff. They are extremely friendly,helpful and patient.A little over a year ago I broke my Jaw and had multiple facial fractures.I was very concerned about the pain, lack of sensation in my face and the lack of range my jaw could open. I thought it may be something I have to live with due to the severity of my injuries. I must say though today I feel so much better! This is from the dedication of Dr.Dolgos and his entire team...

There are many different theories about what causes temporomandibular disorders. As far as effective treatments are concerned, there remains a fair amount of controversy in the medical field about what can be done to alleviate or resolve the condition. At Buffalo TMJ, our team strives to educate patients on the best approach to help alleviate their particular condition.

Parafunction is one of the ways your body reacts to emotional stressors in your life. The anxiety that can contribute to parafunction can be based in the past, present, or even projected out to the future. Stress, anxiety, and other intense, negative emotions can cause the jaw muscles to automatically tighten. This tightening can also squeeze the jaw joints slightly out of alignment, which can lead to an adaptive remodeling of the joint structures. This remodeling can, in turn, cause an increase in muscle tension, as other jaw muscles are recruited in an attempt to stabilize the joint.

Related to parafunctional habits, bruxism is characterized by the clenching or grinding of the teeth. Many patients clench or grind their teeth on a regular basis, but few are aware of it. Bruxism is thought to be the primary determinant of degenerative joint damage, therefore, bruxism can lead to painful TMJ issues. However, not everyone who clenches their jaw or grinds their teeth will develop temporomandibular disorders. An orthotic splint such as a nightguard can minimize the TMJ damage while you work on reducing the stress that may naturally resolve the underlying issue.

When the nervous system detects that the body is not getting enough air, the sympathetic response (fight or flight) is activated, and teeth clenching and grinding can occur. Mounting evidence suggests that these two conditions bruxism and sleep apnea are closely interconnected. The team at Buffalo TMJ takes a comprehensive approach to your treatment. For patients with a compromised airway, we can develop a unique treatment plan that can address both bruxism and sleep apnea with the help of a custom oral appliance.

Injuries to the jaw joints, the head, the neck, or any of the surrounding muscles, can lead to painful, dysfunctional TMJs and the development of temporomandibular disorders. Significant trauma can be caused by a number of physical incidents from sports injuries to falls and car accidents. Any time a person's body is subjected to a significant amount of force, the resulting trauma can have a significant impact on the alignment of the spine and joints. Whiplash-type injuries in particular frequently result in damage to the TMJs.

A misalignment of the mandible (lower jawbone) with the bones of the head can interfere with normal muscular function in the temporomandibular joints. When muscles pull on bones in an imbalanced manner, Dr. Dolgos oftentimes sees changes in the affected bones of his patients in Buffalo, NY. When these musculoskeletal imbalances are directly related to the jaw, they can actually cause your face to become asymmetrical and in doing so they can also contribute to the development of TMD.

Patients may not realize how structural anomalies in their bodies can contribute to TMJ dysfunction. Many of us are born with abnormalities that can lead to TMJ issues. This can include displaced discs, an uneven bite, missing teeth, asymmetrical growth of the upper or lower jaw, and size discrepancies between the jaws. Any of these abnormalities can impede the normal function of the jaw and lead to unfavorable adaptive changes over time that contribute to painful TMJ disorders.

The more the medical community learns about inflammation, the more evidence points to the incredible impact it has on overall health and wellbeing. Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis may cause the breakdown of cartilage, bones, or discs in the spine. If you have degenerative joint problems in other areas of the body, it is possible that your jaw joints may be compromised as well. This can cause patients who suffer from chronic inflammatory diseases to develop a TMJ disorder over time as their condition progresses.

Abnormalities within the nervous system can lead to many symptoms affecting the TMJs. In these cases, it is necessary to rule out more common structural or functional problems before exploring TMD as a cause. If neurological damage is suspected, Dr. Dolgos will refer you to a neurologist in the Buffalo, NY, area for an evaluation before proceeding with developing a treatment plan. Our goal at Buffalo TMJ is to provide our patients with the best solution to their TMJ issues. We strive to ensure they receive the most effective care to best meet their individual needs.

Rarely, infections with pathogenic organisms can cause TMJ-like symptoms. Shingles and Lyme disease are two such conditions. As is the case with neurological issues, Dr. Dolgos will refer you to your primary care physician or an infectious disease specialist in the Buffalo area to address any underlying viral or other pathogenic infection before moving forward with TMJ treatment.

In rare cases, there are times when we cannot determine a physical cause of the symptoms but are able to rule out TMJ disorders. In these situations, Dr. Dolgos will recommend seeking treatment with a team experienced in pain management as the best avenue to provide relief. There are a number of options that can help in such instances including specialists in cognitive therapy, neurofeedback, acupuncture, medical pain management, and alternative healing modalities such as Reiki and Qigong.

It is incredibly important to choose a professional who understands the far-reaching effects of temporomandibular disorder.Dr. Dolgos has a holistic view of the health of the entire body. When developing your specifictreatment plan, he will take your general health into account and not focus solely on the function of the teeth and jaw.

Contrary to what many may believe, there are ways to successfully treat TMJ dysfunction. Effective TMJ treatment can be completely non-invasive as most do not involve surgery. Finding the treatment protocol that will work the best for you takes patience and therefore can be a challenge as you work your way through the therapies. These steps are important to identify the best route of action to treat your unique needs. Needles to say, this may require a certain degree of trial and error.

As part of your individualized treatment plan, Dr. Dolgos may recommend lifestyle changes along with dentistry procedures, such as custom occlusal splints, exercises, or other holistic approaches. Each temporomandibular disorder treatment plan is precisely tailored to meet your unique physiology.

Treatment for painful TMJ problems is a journey, not a destination. The path to wellness can be filled with obstacles but finding a treatment that provides relief from TMD can make all of the hard work worthwhile. Rest assured, Dr. Dolgos is here to guide you every step of the way.

We understand that many patients have concerns about the cost of their treatment. We are happy to file insurance claims on your behalf. And if you have out-of-pocket costs, we accept financing through CareCredit. This means patients on virtually any budget can receive the high standard of care they deserve.

There are many steps that patients can take on their own to find relief fromtemporomandibular disorders. As part of your TMD treatment plan, the lifestyle changes and other therapies that we recommend might include:

Hard foods can irritate an already inflamed TMJ. By shifting your diet to foods that are easier to chew, you may be able to minimize the stress on your jaw joint. Try eating foods like scrambled eggs, nutritious soups, yogurt, or mashed potatoes. By being mindful of eating slowly, you can further reduce the strain on your TMJ. If you chew gum, you should stop this habit as well.

Applying a warm compress to any painful areas can help soothe and soften the tight muscles that may contribute to your TMJ disorder. Regular warm compresses can work wonders in alleviating problematic TMD aches and pains.

Depending on the severity of your TMJ disorder, over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofencan provide temporary relief of pain from acute injuries. If you still have pain in your temporomandibular joint after trying OTC medications, your doctor might be able to recommendvarious prescription-strength medications.

The muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joints can cause pain and other related issues. If it is determined that muscle strain is contributing to your TMD, your doctorcan provide medications to help relax these muscles, allowing them to recover, and in turn diminishing TMJ discomfort.

Improve your overall wellbeing and address TMD by implementing mindfulness practices such as meditation or focused breathing exercises. These exercises can minimize the physical manifestations of stress that can lead to bruxism and other painful TMJ disorders.

A trigger point isa 'knot' in the jaw muscles that can cause TMD pain. Dr. Dolgos can locate these areas of pain affecting your TMJ and inject a mixture of anesthesia and anti-inflammatory steroidsinto the trigger point to break up the 'knot' and relieve pain.

Injections of BOTOX relax the muscles that cause TMD related chronic facial pain. If you have tried and experienced little success with more conservative therapy options, BOTOX injections may be able to provide the long-term relief you seek.

Also known as proliferation therapy, prolotherapy involves repeated injections of a sugar solution into part of your TMJ. Considered a complementary therapy, prolotherapy gives the best results when used in conjunction with other treatments in order to effectively reduce TMD-related pain.

DuringTranscutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, or TENS treatment, a small device delivers a low-voltage electric current at or near the nerves in the TMJ area to reduce pain. TENS works by stimulating the nerve cells that block the transmission of pain signals. In doing so, TENS can effectively modify your perception of pain and discomfort related to your temporomandibular joint.

An innovative process of transdermal drug delivery to ease temporomandibular joint pain, iontophoresis uses a mild electric current and water to transport anti-inflammatory medication past your skin using electrophoresis and electroosmosis.

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) promotes a reduction in pain intensity, the number of tender points, and joint sound, and can improve the range of motion for patients with temporomandibular joint disorders. LLLT can be both an effective and efficient treatment method and even has regenerative effects.

If you are coping with the painful and oftentimes frustrating impact of temporomandibular joint dysfunction on your life, you are not alone.Dr. Dolgos and the team at our dentistry practice offers patients a unique opportunity to address TMJ syndrome and its problematic effects for good. From stress and anxiety to muscular and skeletal issues, the contributing factors for TMJ disorders are numerous so we take a completely individualized approach to care.

I had been suffering from headaches and pain in my face, ears and temples for about 8 years. I had been to many doctors including one other TMJ specialist, none of which were able to help me alleviate the pain. I finally found Dr. Dolgos a few years ago and the change is incredible! I'm no longer in pain on a daily basis and it has improved my life like I never thought possible. I would highly recommend seeing him!

I was referred to Dr. Dolgos due to a severe episode of TMJ that resulted in much jaw pain and an inability to open my mouth. After an extensive evaluation, a treatment plan was developed, which gave me hope my condition would improve in time if i adhered to it. I was given a workbook and a journal to use to help guide me during the course of this experience. It has been 3 months since I first met with Dr. Dolgos. I now can eat normally, and have almost no jaw pain. The caring, compassion, professionalism, skill level, and genuine friendliness of the staff at Buffalo TMJ deserves to be recognized. I highly recommend this practice.

An oral appliance looks very similar to a sports mouthguard or a set of orthodontic retainers. Like an orthodontic retainer, an oral appliance is only worn overnight while you sleep, so it won't affect your speech or self-confidence during the daytime.

Unlike a store-bought night guard, each appliance made at our Orchard Park dental practice is custom-crafted to complement your bite, correct imbalances, and reduce the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

At Buffalo TMJ in Orchard Park, NY, our mission is to help you alleviate pain, open your airways, and treat dysfunction without surgery. Oral appliance therapy is a non-surgical treatment option that can be modified at any point and involves virtually no recovery time.

While other doctors may try to alleviate disorders with invasive surgery or extensive, expensive dental work, dentist Jeffrey Dolgos will always attempt to treat your TMJ disorder or sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy, which is more cost-effective than other forms of therapy.

Over the last several years, Dr. Dolgos has worked hard to create the most comfortable, effective, and durable orthotics. While store-bought oral appliances are often one-size-fits-all, our appliances are customized to your smile for maximum comfort.

Many patients are worried that they will have to wear their appliances during the day and that their speech or eating habits might be affected. This is not the case! Dr. Dolgos creates his own oral appliances, so he is able to customize each device to the patient's individual needs and personal preferences.

Over the past two decades, Dr. Dolgos has focused his dental practice on the treatment of jaw dysfunction and sleep disorders through conservative yet effective treatments such as oral appliance therapy. He is affiliated with several notable organizations, including the:

Sleep apneainhibits your breathing during the nightand interrupts your sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (also known as OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea. OSA is caused by the overrelaxation of muscles at the back of the throat. When the throat muscles relax, your airways become constricted, causing you to stop breathing and waking you up several times throughout the night. Because obstructive sleep apnea causes interrupted sleep, it can result in low energy, daytime drowsiness, irritability, and other serious health concerns.

Like an orthodontic retainer, an oral appliance for sleep apnea is worn only while you sleep. It pushes the lower mandible forward, keeping the upper airways open and improving your breathing.According to the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, 'Research shows that oral appliance therapy is an effective treatment option for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.' At our Orchard Park practice, we have changed the lives of many patients by treating obstructive sleep apnea with oral appliance therapy.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)is a commonly used therapy for sleep apnea that usesa face mask that pushes air into your nose and/or mouth, keeping your airways open while you sleep and reducing snoring. While CPAP is effective, it can be uncomfortable to wear, resulting in poor compliance from patients.

Are you looking for an alternative to CPAP therapy? Compared to CPAP therapy, oral appliances for OSA are more comfortable, less noisy, and easier to use. They are also smaller and more portable than a CPAP appliance, allowing you to travel with ease.

In this video, Dr. Dolgos provides detailed explanations of the different kinds of oral appliances he offers to his patients. Consulting with an expert like Dr. Dolgos can help you decide which device is right for your situation.

Our team will schedule a follow-up visit to ensure that your appliance fits well and meets your needs. Follow-up visits are an important part of managing your sleep apnea or TMJ, as they allow Dr. Dolgos to track your progress and make adjustments to your therapy as necessary.

To help you get the treatment you need, we offer several payment options. If you have dental insurance, we will gladly file claims on your behalf. If part of your care is not covered by insurance, you can cover out-of-pocket costs with CareCredit financing.

Dr Dolgos is the best Dentist Ive ever had ! He is patient, kind, so smart and does everything he can to save and repair teeth. I was told I needed so many root canals and extractions by previous dentists but Dr Dolgos did everything he could to fix my teeth in a conservative fashion! He is honest and puts everything he has into helping his patients. His values and compassion for patients is unlike anything Ive ever experienced! His staff is very kind and welcoming and Dr Dolgos is also a very cool guy and he always makes me feel comfortable and makes me laugh! Not many dentist offices do you feel comfortable or laugh much ! Its always good times at Buffalo TMJ Thanks for your services !!!!!

I was referred to Dr. Dolgos due to a severe episode of TMJ that resulted in much jaw pain and an inability to open my mouth. After an extensive evaluation, a treatment plan was developed, which gave me hope my condition would improve in time if i adhered to it. I was given a workbook and a journal to use to help guide me during the course of this experience. It has been 3 months since I first met with Dr. Dolgos. I now can eat normally, and have almost no jaw pain. The caring, compassion, professionalism, skill level, and genuine friendliness of the staff at Buffalo TMJ deserves to be recognized. I highly recommend this practice. Chris S

While other dental practices may offer oral appliances, Buffalo TMJ's main focus is the treatment of jaw problems and sleep apnea. By focusing on the treatment of TMJ disorders, we are in a position to recommend the most effective appliances for our patients.

Over the years, Dr. Jeffrey Dolgosin Buffalo has developed oral appliances that are customized to treat each patient's unique needs. He even goes as far as to create custom appliances for himself so he can test them before prescribing them to patients. This ensures that the appliances he's making are comfortable, effective, and durable. Patients can trust that they're receiving an oral appliance that even theirdentist would use.

Jaw dysfunction can cause discomfort, jaw muscle stiffness, painful clicking, teeth grinding, dental misalignment, and othersymptoms that can eventually take a toll on your oral and overall health. Addressing your TMJ issues with the techniques Dr. Dolgos teaches can help you alleviate discomfort, feel better on a day-to-day basis, and boost your quality of life.

The jaw joints are among the most frequently used joints in the body. They are also among the most complicated, comprising bones, ligaments, and tissue discs that have to work together to perform opening, closing, and sliding motions simultaneously. When the TMJ jointsdon't function properly, it can affect your chewing, speech, and other movements. This program is designed to help patients understand and follow the process of TMJ rehab to improve jaw function.

The Internet can be a useful tool for reading about the symptoms and treatment of TMJ disorder, but online resources rarely provide the personalized care and recommendations you need to alleviate your unique jaw issues. When you receive TMJ treatment at Buffalo TMJ in Orchard Park, NY, you get access to the TMJ Academy, where you can find thetools, support, and answers that are personally curated by an expert.

Dr. Dolgos is the founder of the TMJ Academy. He is a dentist who has spent over two decades studying and treating TMJ dysfunction and sleep apnea.His Orchard Park, NY, office is exclusively dedicated to helping patients with jaw issues and sleep disorders find relief through custom, conservative treatments.

Treating TMJ isn't like treating a cavity - it's a process that typically requires ongoing therapy and dedicated lifestyle changes that provide relief over time. Once painful symptoms subside, patients must usually continue taking special measures under a doctor's direction to maintain long-term results.

This is why Dr. Dolgos took it upon himself to establish the TMJ Academy. This supplemental tool is available to help those who are taking action against TMJ to experience a lasting improvement in their health, comfort, and quality of life.