Dr. Demerjian is an expert in Neuronatomy, Pain Patterns, Trigger Points, the Trigeminal Branch/Nerve and how it correlates to Neurologic Disorders. He has published several articles and research papers including how the trigeminal system is conncected to neurologic disorders
Dr. Demerjian has taken over 2000 hours of postgraduate education courses, in the area of TMJ, Craniofacial Pain, Sleep Disorders and Orthodontics. He is knowledgeable in neuro-anatomy, pain patterns, trigger points, the trigeminal branch/nerve and how it correlates to neurologic disorders. In 2014, he has joined Fontana Kaiser and worked as Project Scientist for the Department of Oral Biology in the UCLA School of Dentistry from from 2014-2018.
Since 2004, he has limited his practice to the treatment of TMJ Disorders, Headaches, Facial Pain, Sleep Apnea, Movement Disorders and Orthodontics. Along with two busy practices, Dr. Demerjian also lectures on topics in Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and its correlates on neurologic disorders.
Dr. Demerjian currently treats adolescents and adults with tmj/mpd-mayofascial pain disorders using custom fabricated orthotic appliances, myriad of therapeutic techniques and orthodontics. His sleep-disordered breathing treatments utilize using multiple dental sleep appliances and therapeutic techniques. He also treats patients suffering from neurologic disorderswith dental management of the disorder through his TMJ treatments. He has published several articles and research papers including how the trigeminal system correlates to neurologic disorders.
11th Armenian Medical World Congress; Los Angeles, California July 2013 Temporomandibular Joint Disease: Treatment with dental Orthopedics Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, Orthopedics and Joint Disease Correlates to Systemic conditions Arch Expansion and Mandibular Orthopedics for Pediatric Sleep Apnea
Demerjian GG, Barkhordarian A, and Chiappelli F. Neuroanatomy of the Trigeminal Nerve and Proximal Innervations of the TMJ. Chapter 1, Pg. 3-15. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Barkhordarian A, and Chiappelli F, Demerjian GG. Neuroanatomy and Neurophyiology of the Trigeminal Network System. Chapter 2, Pg. 17-38. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Barkhordarian A, and Chiappelli F, Demerjian GG. Neuroimmune and Systemic Manifestations of Neuroinflammation in the Temporomandibular Joint and Related Disorders. Chapter 3, Pg. 39-60. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Demerjian GG, Sims AB, Patel M, Balatgek T, Sabal L. Head & Neck Manifestations of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. Chapter 5, Pg. 73-93. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Sims AB, Demerjian GG. Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction, Trigeminal Nerve Inflammation, and Biomechanical Dental Treatments for the Suppression of Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms. Chapter 6, Pg. 95-123. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Patel M, Demerjian GG, Sims AB. The Relationship of Temporomandibular Joint, Orofacial Pain and Sleep Apnea. Chapter 7, Pg. 125-134. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Demerjian GG, Pooja Goel. Immunologic and Physiologic Effects of Dental Sleep Appliance Therapy. Chapter 8, Pg. 135-171. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Balategel T, Demerjian GG, Sims AB, Patel M. CBCT & MRI of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders and Related Structure. Chapter 10, Pg. 201-217. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Chiappelli F, Barkhordarian A, Demerjian GG. Patient-centered outcomes research and collaborative evidence-based medical and dental practice for patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. Chapter 11, Pg. 219-238. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Chiappelli F, Barkhordarian A, Demerjian GG. Patient-centered outcomes research and collaborative evidence-based medical and dental practice for patients with Temporomandibular Joint Disorders. Chapter 12, Pg. 239-249. Temporomandibular Joint and Airway Disorders, A Translational Perspective. Springer Nature 2018. Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland.
Demerjian GG, Barkhordarian A, and Chiappelli F. Testing patient targeted therapies in patients with temporomandibular joint disorder with the arthrokinetic reflex: individual patient research Journal of Translational Medicine 2016, 14:231.
Barkhordarian A, Ajaj R, Ramchandani M, Demerjian G, Cayabyab R, Danaie S, Ghodousi N, Iyer N, Mahanian N, Phi L, Giroux A, Manfrini E, Neagos N, Siddiqui M, Cajulis O, Brant X, Shapshak P, Chiappelli F. Osteoimmunology in HIV/AIDS: A Translational Evidence-Based Perspective, Pathology Research International 2011, E. pub 2011 May 21.
Barkhordarian A, Demerjian G, Jan A, Sama N, Nguyen M, Du A, Chiappelli F. Stakeholder engagement analysis - a bioethics dilemma in patient-targeted intervention: patients with temporomandibular joint disorders, J Transl Med. 2015; 13: 15.
Chiappelli F, Barkhordarian A., Demerjian G, Bach Q, Vandan Kasar. Cluster Randomized Stepped Wedge Blinded Controlled Trials (CRSWBCT) In Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Part II: Implications for Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD) Research, Transl Med (Sunnyvale) 2015, 5:3.
Chiappelli F, Barkhordarian A. Demerjian G, Bach Q, Vandan Kasar. Cluster Randomized Stepped Wedge Blinded Controlled Trials (CRSWBCT) In Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) Part I: Toward a Revision of CONSORT, Transl Med (Sunnyvale) 2015, 5:3.
Demerjian G, Barkhordarian A, Sims AB, Chiappelli F. Systemic Correlates of TMJ Neuro-Inflammation. Systemic Correlates of TMJ Neuro-Inflammation (#105). World Dental Federation (Fdration dentaire internationale, FDI) Annual Dental Congress, Istanbul, Turkey, August 28-31, 2013.
Demerjian G, Barkhordarian A, Sims AB, Chiappelli F. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Orthopedics and Joint Disease correlates to systemic conditions. 11th Armenian Medical World Congress, Hollywood, California, July 3-7, 2013.
Demerjian G, Sims AB, Barkhordarian A, Chiappelli F. Dental Arch Expansion and Mandibular Orthopedic Correction in Children: A Treatment for Pediatric Sleep Apnea. 11th Armenian Medical World Congress, Hollywood, California, July 3-7, 2013.
Demerjian G, Sims AB, Barkhordarian A, Chiappelli F. Temporomandibular Joint Disease: Treatment with Dental Orthopedics for Pain Management. 11th Armenian Medical World Congress, Hollywood, California, July 3-7, 2013.
Dr. Demerjian grew up in Pasadena and his family moved to La Verne in 1981. He has been practicing dentistry in the city of Glendora since 1990 and in the San Fernando Valley since 2001. He is an avid Martial Arts practitioner, holding several Black Belts in numerous styles. He serves as the head instructor for Marquez School of Hope, teaching karate to all students including to the specially challenged. He is on the Dental Advisory Committee at Citrus College and the Sleep Panel at the Pomona Valley Hospital. He maintains active membership in numerous scientific organizations.
Mild to moderate sleep apnea patients are among largest groups of patients that are not screened. However, dentists with advanced training in dental sleep medicine can be patients' first-line of defense against the potentially devastating cardiovascular, neurologic and interpersonal consequences of undiagnosed and untreated sleep-disordered breathing problems.
In our office, we use a state-of-the-art pharyngometer/rhinometer to measure your airway volume, determine whether or not your airway collapses, and evaluate your nasal turbinates (small, bony structures covered by mucous membranes that protrude into the nasal airway and help to warm, humidify and cleanse air as it is inhaled and before it reaches the lungs). Enlarged turbinates and nasal congestion can contribute to headaches and sleep disorders such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, as the nasal airway is the normal breathing route during sleep.
In addition to screening for sleep disorders, qualified dentists can provide dental sleep medicine therapies to patients that suffer from snoring, sleep apnea and other sleep-disordered breathing problems. These therapies can often enable sleep patients to find effective alternative or adjunct therapies to traditional treatments for sleep disorders, including CPAP or surgery.
Snoring is no laughing matter. Although often depicted comically, snoring should be taken seriously. It can disrupt your sleep as well as your partner's sleep. Snoring can also lead to sleep apnea by changing the structure of tissues. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea.
If you've been told that you snore, or you suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness or shortness of breath upon awakening, consult your doctor. Today, patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea are among the largest groups of patients not screened. That said, the only way to determine with certainty if you have sleep apnea is by referral to an overnight sleep lab for a diagnostic polysomnographic (sleep) study. We are happy to you with names of sleep physicians and sleep labs that we work with upon request.
For simple snoring and mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), oral appliance therapy is an excellent alternative to CPAP and/or surgery. Both the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine endorse it.
When they are well made and used as directed by a qualified health professional, dental sleep appliances can put an end to snoring in the majority of patients. However, the success of these splint-like devices for any given patient cannot be determined without a complete dental sleep examination.
In our practice, we use six (6) different FDA-approved oral appliances to successfully treat snoring as well as other types of sleep-disordered breathing problems. To achieve maximum results, each of these splint-like devices must be customized and precision-fit to each patient. One size does not fit all, which is why you should be evaluated and treated for snoring by a dentist with advanced training and expertise in dental sleep medicine.
At their annual meeting in 1995, the American Sleep Disorders Association adopted a resolution, which formally accepted dental appliance therapy for treatment of snoring and mild sleep apnea. They also extended the recommendation to include dental appliance therapy for treatment of moderate and severe cases of sleep apnea. This is especially encouraging news, since nationally only 45% of patients using CPAP machines continue to use them. We cannot determine with certainty whether or not you are a candidate for dental sleep appliance without a comprehensive sleep evaluation by our office. However, we can tell you that increasing numbers of patients are successfully using oral sleep appliances as both alternatives and adjuncts to standard therapies, including CPAP and surgery.