Wesley E. Shankland, II, DDS, MS, Ph.D. is highly trained in the treatment of TMD (TMJ), orofacial pain, and sleep breathing disorders. He has been in practice since 1978 in Central Ohio. His practice has been limited to TMD, orofacial pain, and sleep breathing disorders since 1983. Upon graduation from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, in a class of 215 students, Dr. Shankland earned 3 of 12 academic awards, all of which were determined by the faculty of the College of Dentistry. He completed a one-year fellowship in the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorders. Within one year of graduating, Dr. Shankland was asked to join the faculty of the College of Dentistry and he continued to teach for five years, but continued to lecture in the College of Dentistry and College of Medicine periodically.

In addition, Dr. Shankland has participated in four (4) FDA scientific studies, the most significant being (1) Analgesic evaluation program: an assessment of the systemic and oral safety of sublingual buprenorphine in the treatment of patients with chronic pain, (2) The NTI device and migraine headaches and (3) Efficacy of through-transmission alveolar ultrasound in the diagnosis of ischemic conditions.

Originally from Lima, Ohio, Dr. Wesley Shankland has resided in Columbus since 1971, except for his time of military service in the US Army where he served as a combat medic. He and his wife attend Faith Life Church in New Albany. He is the Director of the TMJ & Facial Pain Center in Westerville (Columbus), Ohio. Returning to graduate school long after graduation from dental school, Dr. Shankland has earned an MS and Ph.D., both in human anatomy. While in graduate school, Dr. Shankland was fortunate enough to discover three (3) previously unknown structures in the human body. Dr. Shankland treats patients from all over the world for their problems of facial pain, headaches, temporomandibular joint problems, and sleep breathing disorders. In addition to practicing, Dr. Shankland also lectures and teaches all over the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He has also lectured in Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa, Germany, England, Norway, Malaysia, Singapore, and Puerto Rico. He lectures on and teaches gross anatomy, temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain, headaches, sleep breathing disorders and he teaches gross anatomy (dissection) seminars.

Dr. Shankland graduated from The Ohio State University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree with dual majors in biochemistry and zoology. While an undergraduate student, he was enrolled in the honors program in which he conducted research in embryology and perfected a method to control the estrous cycles of laboratory animals. He graduated in 1978 from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. While in dental school in a class of 215, Dr. Shankland was awarded three of twelve academic awards, all of which were determined by a vote of the respective faculty members of the department presenting the awards. In 1989, he returned to Ohio State to earn a Masters of Science Degree in anatomy, 1993. He further did research for his Ph.D. at Ohio State and obtained the degree from Summit University of Louisiana (a non-credited program) in 1997.

Dr. Shankland has written over one hundred thirteen (113) national and international scientific publications which have been published in scientific, refereed journals. Further, he has written a manual of head and neck anatomy, and chapters in 14 textbooks. Dr. Shanklands book, TMJ: Its Many Faces (Anadem Publishers), was released in February of 1996. The second edition of this best-selling book was released in October 1998. US News & World Report magazine listed this as THE TMJ book to purchase. His second pain book, Face the Pain (Aomega Publishers), was released in July of 2000. His most recent book is Bioterrorism: You Can Survive. Dr. Shankland also edited the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Craniofacial Pain for the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain. Further, he contributed to the two manuals, Radiofrequency Surgery for the Treatment of Head and Facial Pain and Myofascial Pain, Diagnosis and Treatment, both published by the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain.

Dr. Shankland is a member and past president of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (1998-2000). Hes also a member of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, The American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, The Illinois Sleep Society, The Ohio State University Dental Alumni Society (Life Member), and is an Ohio State University Marching Band Alumni.

Dr. Shankland is Board Certified by the American Board of Craniofacial Pain and a Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Sleep Disorders Disciplines. He is also a member of the Okinawan Karate Federation and has earned a brown belt in Shorin-Ryu (Okinawan) karate and Toy Gar Kung Fu, rank of 1st-degree brown belt.

Being a general dentist, Dr. Shankland and his staff provide dental care for patients of all ages. Your oral health is crucial to your overall health and truly, your mouth is a barometer of your bodys health.

General dentistry includes all phases of dentistry, and Dr. Shankland provides dental services of all types: restorative treatment, oral surgery, certain types of orthodontic therapy, implants, TMJ treatment, treatment of various types of orofacial or craniofacial pain and even treatment for certain types of sleep disordered breathing. More specifically, Dr. Shankland his staff can provide you and your family dental services such as:

Titanium implants have been used for decades worldwide to replace missing teeth or to secure loose or ill-fitting dentures. Recently, ceramic, or non-metallic, implants have been approved by the US FDA.

One problem that frequently arises with titanium implants is one of esthetics. Patients with thin, translucent gums or those who are prone to gum recession (as are many aging people) may end up with the gray gums or titanium from conventional or mini implants showing around the margin of the crown. Since zirconia is non-metallic and white, it is much more natural looking than titanium. Its a perfect base color that closely mimics what nature created in the first place.

Also, because zirconia does not conduct an electrical charge is a wonderful benefit, as opposed to metal implants. Bacterial growth on the surface of a zirconia implant is far less likely to adhere to the implant due to its non-conductivity, thus creating an oral environment that promotes much healthier gingival tissues.

Dr. Shankland has had extensive training in conscious sedation techniques and has provided sedation for his patients since his practice opened in 1978. Conscious sedation is both safe and effective. You are never totally asleep, but you will be relaxed and care very little concerning the procedure we will be performing.