DR. SCHUYLER VANDYKE IS THE ONLY DENTIST IN MONTANA WITH DIPLOMATE DEGREES FROM THE AMERICAN BOARD OF CRANIOFACIAL PAIN, THE AMERICAN BOARD OF CRANIOFACIAL DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE AND IS A DIPLOMATE FOR AMERICAN BOARD OF DENTAL SLEEP MEDICINE

Dr. VanDyke is a native Montanan and comes from a long line of dentists within her family. She and her husband of 25 years have raised 3 wonderful children who now are pursuing their own careers. She enjoys all outdoor sports from running, skiing, and snowmobiling to surfing behind the family boat!

Her passion for dentistry began in her teenage years while working for her father, who was also a dentist. She graduated from Oregon Health Sciences University School of Dentistry in 1990 and practiced general dentistry for 29 years. Half-way through her career as a general dentist, she began a long educational journey in TMJ and Dental Sleep Medicine. Her passion for these patients became so great that she sold her dental practice in 2019 and started TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Montana in Great Falls. She is proud of starting the first and only office in Montana dedicated solely to treating TMJ and Dental Sleep Medicine.

Dr. VanDyke has completed over 1200 hours of continuing education in Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine. She is the only Triple-Board certified dentist in Craniofacial Pain and Dental Sleep Medicine in the State of Montana. Her Diplomate degrees are with the American Board of Craniofacial Pain (ABCP), American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine (ABCDSM), and American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM). She is a 2020 member on the Board of Directors for the Academy of Craniofacial Pain.

She regularly attends continuing education that further advances her clinical skills to provide the best care for her patients. By treating the origin of the patients pain and sleep problems, it has become clear to Dr. VanDyke that medications are not the long-term answer for patients with these conditions. Dr. VanDyke enjoys educating patients by giving them the tools they need to live healthier lives independent of medications and Band-Aid fixes. She has the greatest compassion for each patient and is committed to providing them the highest quality of care.

For more than 9 years, TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre has been helping adults and children with these conditions. We understand the complexities of craniofacial pain and sleep-related breathing disorders and how they overlap and impact the lives of millions.

Dr. VanDyke uses a proven system for the diagnosis and treatment of craniofacial pain (TMJ, headaches, facial pain) and treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders (sleep apnea, snoring) without surgery. Our practice is focused solely on improving the quality of life for children and adults suffering from craniofacial pain and sleep-related breathing disorders. We use the latest technological advances and provide non-surgical therapies and treatment options.

TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Montana provides dental sleep medicine. Dental sleep medicine is the management of medically diagnosed sleep-related breathing disorders such as sleep apnea and snoring using oral appliance therapy for adults and orthopedic orthodontics for airway development or correction for children.

Dr. VanDyke of TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Montana is specifically trained and experienced in dental sleep medicine. The standard of care is always to attempt non-surgical rehabilitation before invasive surgical procedures. The percentage of patients who need surgery is extremely low.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused by an airway blockage (obstruction) during sleep. During the day, muscles in the airway region keep the throat and airway passage open but when a patient has obstructive sleep apnea, the throat collapses during sleep, blocking the airway and preventing air from getting to the lungs. The site of obstruction in most patients is the soft palate, extending to the region at the base of the tongue.

There are no rigid structures, such as cartilage or bone, in this area to hold the airway open. So as a person with OSA falls asleep, these muscles relax to a point where the airway collapses and becomes obstructed. Although OSA is typically considered an adult condition, there is no age boundary and apnea can affect otherwise healthy children. OSA may in fact be the root cause of childhood behavior and attention problems like ADHD. Enlarged tonsils and small structural features of the maxilla/nose, mouth and throat may contribute to childhood OSA. Proper evaluation and testing is needed for an accurate diagnosis.

TMJ refers to Temporomandibular Joint pain, while TMD refers to Temporomandibular Joint dysfunctions. TMJ pain is one of the conditions most frequently identified by patients. This is a very real condition caused by disturbances in the action of the jaw.

Some patients experience TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) pain and dysfunctions (TMD), some experience primary headaches (known as migraines, tension and cluster) while others may have facial neuralgias, musculoskeletal pain, or a combination of all.